ITM Cup: Tasman win spurs Auckland's Ranfurly Shield hopes

Charlie Faumuina. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland go Ranfurly Shield hunting tonight in Napier.

Fresh off their best display of 2015, a 28-19 defeat of Tasman in Blenheim, the Premiership union will seek to touch the Log o' Wood for the first time since 2008, when they were blanked 27-0 by Jamie Joseph's Wellington Lions. They have since endured two unsuccessful challenges, the last a 9-6 reverse against Southland in 2010.

"We're rapt with the Tasman performance. That was a real litmus test," said Auckland coach Paul Feeney. "We'd said on Saturday that if you wanted to play in the Shield game then you needed to put in a good performance against Tasman."

Lock Scott Scrafton returns in the only change to the starting XV. Rieko Ioane is released to the Auckland Under 19s for the national tournament in Taupo, but may be back for the October 3 Northland clash.

There is not a lot of personal Shield history to draw from for Auckland. Technical adviser Allan Pollock coached North Harbour to win it off Canterbury in 2006, while assistant coach Nick White played when Auckland wrested it off the Cantabs in 2007 and when they lost it to Wellington the following year. None of the Auckland squad have played for the Shield in the blue and white jersey, though four, including bracketed lock Michael Fatialofa, have played for it at other provinces.

The Auckland pack was impressive against Tasman, particularly the loose trio, but there will be just as much interest in seeing if second-five George Moala can extend his remarkable try-scoring run of seven in as many games, all of which have been scored from within 7m of the line.

Feeney knows Hawkes Bay will be dangerous. The union has issued a call to arms to its fans, so there should be close to 10,000 at McLean Park.

"Man for man, they are quality across the park. We know it's going to be a big arm wrestle," said Feeney.

Israel Dagg and Andrew Horrell will line up for their 50th matches for the Magpies. The duo played in Hawkes Bay's scratchy 23-17 Shield defence on Saturday against Bay of Plenty. The Magpies, who will make their 11th defence of this tenure, will also seek to be the sixth Championship side to take a Premiership scalp in 2015. They have already toppled Counties Manukau.

• Auckland openside flanker Mitch Karpik has signed with the Chiefs and Bay of Plenty for 2016. The New Zealand Under 20s representative has impressed in the ITM Cup and is keen to learn off Sam Cane.

ITM Cup crossover/Ranfurly Shield

Hawkes Bay v Auckland
McLean Park, 7.35 tonight

Auckland: Charlie Piutau, Bryce Heem, Vince Aso, George Moala, Ben Lam, Simon Hickey (c), Jono Hickey, Akira Ioane, Mitch Karpik, Joe Edwards, Scott Scrafton, Michael Fatialofa/Will Lloyd, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Sam Prattley

Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Jono Owen, Tom McHugh, Taleni Seu, Matt Matich, Kaito Shigeno, Mitch Hunt, Lolagi Visinia