Entertainment name of the game for Lavea

Tasea Lavea (left) has been so impressive for Auckland that an All Black call-up is not impossible. Phil Walter / Getty Images

Think what you will about Auckland rugby, but this season's vintage won't die wondering.

Take the home game against Southland at Eden Park in round three.

Leading 29-3 late in the first half, 29-18 up at the interval. As Southland gamely closed the gap to the point where they were 38-37 down with a couple of minutes to go, sensible souls cried out for the ball to be booted as far from the Auckland line as possible.

Instead, Auckland ran the ball out from their 22. It worked, the points were won, but a better long-range drop-kicker than Richard Apanui might have wrecked that.

The point being Auckland have been committed entertainers this season, and tonight they face a team who perennially live their rugby life on the edge.

Wellington are past masters at costing their fans perfectly healthy heads of hair but what is undeniable is both teams are good value for the paying public. Eden Park tonight should be no different.

Auckland, sitting joint top with Canterbury on 29 points, are averaging 4 1/2 tries a game; Wellington, lying fifth, a tick under four. Backs enjoy playing in these teams.

In Auckland's case, their organiser is Tasesa Lavea and he shares coach Pat Lam's view that they must work to grab every chance in the dying stages of the campaign. That has been their biggest flaw this season and with semifinal and final ambitions on the line, squandering opportunities at the most critical juncture of the season just won't do.

"It's frustrating at times, but something we've got to deal with," Lavea said. "With the players we've got and the opportunities we can create, often it's just the final pass that needs to click."

Lavea thinks back to three games this season and wonders aloud what might have been.

"Against Waikato [won 40-30] we should have scored another four tries. Otago, we got to a 17-0 lead, then let them back in [but won 31-16].

"The same against Taranaki - 13-0 then let them back [and lost 40-19].

"The way we're trying to play gets us tired as well, and we've done a lot of work on our fitness to get mentally stronger so we don't make those errors."

The support play has been strong and the cutting edge of their runners has opened gaps for the fast men, but Lavea is honest enough to admit that although Auckland possess bundles of flair and talent, "sometimes we don't play smart".

"To me, it's really exciting to play. Obviously a lot of teams play conservatively in their own half, but we just want to play what's in front of us."

This is something of a Lam mantra and Lavea has had, in his words, "to think outside the square a bit". He gave an example of Auckland's philosophy.

For generations, first five-eighths receiving the ball in their own 22 have kicked for touch.

If Lavea looks up and sees the opposition fullback and two wings back waiting for the kick, that takes three players out of the backline.

And if Auckland have an entire backline loaded with exhilarating runners panting outside him, why not attack the spaces? If they then get shut down, use the kick.

It has its risks and the old guard might tut-tut, but the young brigade are being given their head. In five of their seven games, Auckland have scored four or more tries. Wellington have done so four times. Auckland have leaked 19 tries; Wellington 17.

Lavea talked of the desire to score within the first three or four phases, and preferably the first. This has become one of the intriguing side issues to long-term retention of possession.

While it's admirable that teams can retain the ball through enough phases for viewers to nip out, make a coffee, feed the cat, take a toilet stop and resume their seats, it can be hard to break down what has effectively by then become a defensive wall.

"We don't want to set up a whole sequence. We work really hard on that. It's exciting to call, but at the same time you can't get carried away with it and [if it doesn't work] you've got to deal with it."

For someone who sat in Carlos Spencer's shadow for the last couple of seasons, Lavea is relishing running the cutter this season. His form had him getting favourable mentions when Dan Carter's broken leg meant the All Black selectors were casting about for a replacement during the Tri-Nations.

Lavea, the former Melbourne Storm back who'll have at least one eye on Sunday night's NRL grand final, sounded slightly embarrassed at the notion.

"It's not something I think about. If things go well they take care of themselves. If your team is going well I guess it helps, but I want to achieve goals with Auckland. Anything after that is a bonus."

TASESA LAVEA

* Born in Taihape

* Went to St Kentigern College

* Selected for NZ secondary schools in 1998

* Played in the NRL for the Melbourne Storm 2000-01

* Picked for the Kiwis 2000-01

* Returned to rugby in 2003