Final victory in Lam's war of attrition

Auckland celebrate their win against Otago in the NPC final at Eden Park on Saturday night. Picture/ Brett Phibbs

Auckland 39 Otago 11

Frequently this season, Auckland coach Pat Lam has spoken about his side's ability to outrun, outgun and outlast their NPC rivals.

When the fatigue factor kicked in for the final quarter of matches, Lam backed his side's skills and endurance to survive most inquisitions.

There were a couple of glitches against Taranaki and Canterbury but when it counted most, when Auckland needed all their nerve and belief for Saturday's NPC final against Otago, they kept the faith.

It was a belief in the game plan and trust they would prevail which drove Auckland to claim their 15th title in the 30-year history of the national competition.

With 15 minutes left, Auckland were holding a slim 15-11 margin before they blew Otago away with four late tries. The onslaught was infectious, the change in tempo too torrid for the southerners.

The result vindicated Lam's strategies, preparation and detail while he was blessed with a neat balance of hardworkers and athletes, a cocktail of talent which was too impressive for Otago.

After the victory, Lam reiterated his concept for the season which dragged his side from a miserable seventh finish last year to the championship dais at Eden Park.

There were many NPC sides with strong set-piece credentials, so Auckland thought they would pressure their rivals' fitness. "The plan is to tire teams out knowing that we can come through," Lam said.

For the plan to work, Auckland relied on the massive workrate of captain Justin Collins, Angus Macdonald and the turnover and link work of Daniel Braid.

The NPC champions also reinvented themselves after the disappointment of their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury.

In training for the playoffs, every member of the side was told to attack the breakdowns with clustered venom as support for the Auckland ball-carrier or to slow down the opposition possession.

The strategy worked against North Harbour and was repeated against Otago. The relentless approach at the breakdown helped create the defensive holes in the last 15 minutes.

Collins has brought a follow-me style of leadership which was missing last season as he recovered from his heart problem.

The skipper was in doubt for Saturday's final. A calf muscle he strained before the semifinal against North Harbour played up again last week and he only convinced the staff he was fit during a strenuous warmup for the match.

Before he retired after a valiant 60 minutes, Collins felt the title was Auckland's to lose.

"I thought we were in control for most of the first half. We were running them round and they were starting to blow a bit," he said.

It was an assessment Otago coach Wayne Graham accepted.

"We defended for 75 per cent of the game," he said, "and then ran out of steam."

Otago had tackled almost anything Auckland threw at them until the last stages of the final.

They had defused several Auckland attacks just short of the chalk until Keven Mealamu scored from a planned lineout move. The hooker's throw to the back of the lineout was collected by Jerome Kaino, offloaded to Macdonald then Braid swept back against the grain for the pass to Mealamu to dive over near the touchline.

It was sharp, too intricate for Otago to defend and allowed Auckland to take a 10-8 lead just before the interval.

After the break Doug Howlett juggled and finished a snappy Steve Devine cutout pass but Otago refused to concede as a Nick Evans penalty brought them to a 15-11 deficit.

Rugby, suggested Auckland assistant coach Shane Howarth, had become too static and his side had tried to alter that this season. Mealamu's try was a great advertisement as were the late collects for replacements Bradley Mika, Ben Atiga, Taniela Moa and departing All Black Mils Muliaina.

There were many standouts but midfielder Isa Nacewa took some beating.

His speed, handling and defence was first-rate and it was strange he was subbed by Sam Tuitupou, only to win a reprieve five minutes later when Tasesa Lavea strained a hamstring.

Nacewa moved into first five-eighths where he appreciated the slick service off Devine and showed further versatility and a rare talent to kick tactically with either foot.

Lineout general Ali Williams was supreme as he had to be with Auckland's limited options. He flicked about the field too and in the tunnel afterwards received some serious praise from the doyen of Auckland coaches, Fred Allen.

Nick Evans, Chris Smylie, Josh Blackie, Tom Donnelly and Anton Oliver were prominent in an Otago side which gave the impression it was hanging on for much of the final, a team which gave its all but did not have the same overall class.