Much to admire in nifty try-time bonanza

By WYNNE GRAY

AUCKLAND 52 BAY OF PLENTY 8

Auckland had the significant victory, second place on the NPC table on an afternoon when they recorded a rollicking seven tries.

They cut loose in the second half, bagging five tries and not conceding a point to the visiting Bay of Plenty as they rampaged to an easy win at Eden Park.

But the victors and the vanquished were both left with puzzling questions about their form as they contemplated the next stages of their campaigns.

For the second week in succession, Auckland struggled through the first half, especially with their lineout, while the Bay, so confident they had gained some set-piece solidity this season, crumbled badly in that department.

The coaches reacted with standard comments about these glitches coming at an opportune time in the tournament and being timely lessons for the matches ahead.

Auckland's problems are not as widespread, and for now, they are at the right end of the points table. The Bay are involved in the tailend dogfight.

Bay coach Vern Cotter admitted his side had been "dysfuntional" after being in the match for the first half-an-hour. Once the Bay started to unravel they had no idea or ammunition to halt the problems.

Once they got sorted, the Auckland pack sent the Bay into reverse, and when they found found their timing and generated quick possession, they were able to cut the Bay up out wide just as they did to Harbour last week.

"We lifted the intensity, we got numbers to the breakdown, did not turn over quite as much ball and got quicker ball, which freed up the backs out wide," coach Wayne Pivac said.

"I think we have shown when we get quick ball what we can do with it, and that is vital to our game. Obviously teams are targeting the tackled-ball area and trying to slow it down."

In a second half of huge movement and enterprise, Auckland showed the type of attack which will burn most opponents. The forwards exploded through the middle of the park, the backs used their pace and a variety of passes to outflank the defence.

Chief architects on attack once more were Carlos Spencer and Lee Stensness. Replacement halfback Dave Gibson was very lively, and Mils Muliaina was relishing his run after his two-week rest.

It was a sizzling half of rugby, one which would have tested many sides with far stronger defences than the Bay.

There were rare blemishes from Auckland. Normally reliable wing Doug Howlett headed that list of gaffes, though, when he ignored the unmarked Justin Collins on his inside, dummied and was clattered by a lone defender.

He also suffered a groin strain and halfback Steve Devine and prop Kees Meeuws were both replaced because of ankle injuries, with Devine looking the more affected.

Round their second-spell slaughter, Auckland would also laud their defence. They conceded one try in a goal-line scramble but that was all against a side who earned bonus points in every previous match because of their try-scoring power.

Auckland have yielded only five tries this season, a statistic which will be concentrating the minds of their remaining opposition.