Auckland targeting quicker ball from breakdown area

The contentious breakdown area has been a key focus of Auckland's build-up for their NPC rugby semifinal against North Harbour at Eden Park tomorrow night.

After Auckland's Ranfurly Shield defeat last weekend, coach Pat Lam complained that Canterbury flanker Richie McCaw was getting away with illegally slowing the ball down at most rucks.

During the match, it was McCaw's teammate, hooker Corey Flynn, who found himself in the sinbin after referee Paul Honiss issued a general warning about persistent infringing.

Flanker Daniel Braid said ensuring quick ruck ball was an issue Auckland had been concentrating on this week.

"Canterbury gave away a lot of penalties, but we really didn't deal with the threats that were there very well," he said.

"We've had a real focus on clearing our ruck ball so we've got quick ball and that's really crucial to our game."

The semifinal at Eden Park will feature two prolific try-scoring outfits, with North Harbour's 35 touchdowns being the most in the NPC round-robin phase this season.

Auckland finished just three tries behind their northern neighbours, suggesting an expansive spectacle is in store.

"I don't think either side will tighten up too much," Braid said.

"We don't go in with any preconceived ideas to stay tight. We look for where the space is and, if it's there, we'll attack it."

A genuine openside loosie who acts as a link between the forwards and backs, Braid is revelling in Auckland's ad-lib style on offence.

"There's a lot of width," he said.

"A lot of teams have been giving space out wide and I enjoy that, being able to get out and run and keep up with the backs."

Auckland will go into the latest "battle of the bridge" with most of the statistics in their favour.

They have beaten North Harbour all four times the two sides have meet in the NPC playoffs, including in the 1994 final.

They have been NPC champions a record 14 times in the competition's 29 years, while North Harbour are still after their first first-division title.

Auckland also won their round-robin match against Harbour 27-10 in August, although both teams were without their All Blacks.

Braid said that victory was a plus leading into the semifinal, but not enough to make Auckland clear favourites in a sudden-death encounter.

Meanwhile, the former All Black wasn't thinking beyond the NPC and his chances of a recall for New Zealand's upcoming Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland.

Braid, 24, made his test debut against Wales on the end-of-season Northern Hemisphere tour in 2002, after having been an ever-present member of Auckland's NPC title-winning side that year.

"One of the best things was winning an NPC in my first full season," he said.

"It was a great experience and I want that again. With that win, a lot of guys made the All Blacks. I made the All Blacks. That comes from winning, but I'm not really thinking about it."

Braid's two other test caps came in the 2003 World Cup.

- NZPA