Rugby: Clash of No 10s adds spice to big match

Colin Slade will square off against Gareth Anscombe in tomorrow's clash at Eden Park. Photo / Getty Images

There's a raft of important elements at play in tomorrow's clash at Eden Park.

Making a strong start in a congested campaign and the usual bragging rights between two high-profile, highly successful unions are two of them.

But the most eye-catching on-field aspect between Auckland and Canterbury could come from the two men wearing No 10.

Gareth Anscombe is among the flavours du jour in New Zealand rugby. His promise was well known before he played a significant part in the national under-20 side maintaining their superb unbeaten record at the world championship in Italy last month.

He got a sniff of action last year in the ITM Cup and will be well aware of the old "second" argument. Think music. A debut record is one thing; producing a top-class second album quite another.

So it is in sport. Much of his game will have been dissected by his opponents, but he'll be ready.

"I guess you can look at it two ways. People might know about me but I think I've improved a bit as well," he said.

Anscombe has added about 17kg in bulk since last year, but is beefing up with care, knowing he doesn't want to put a handbrake on his speed.

"I don't want to chuck it on too fast and suddenly find you can't carry your bulk around."

He will square off against Canterbury's Colin Slade today, the All Black squad member short of match time in a season so far affected significantly by two broken jaws.

Slade headed off Aaron Cruden in what had become a two-man race as Dan Carter's All Black backup, but he needs to get more work behind him.

This, therefore, becomes an intriguing contest between an All Black squad incumbent and a young pretender.

How Anscombe's partnership with new halfback Alby Mathewson works will be of particular interest for coach Mark Anscombe. Mathewson might still harbour a slim hope of making the World Cup squad so won't be short of incentive.

Anscombe may share surnames with his first five-eighths, but his views of his boy are not dissimilar to his expectations for several young players this season.

"Like all players it's an important season and he's trying to nail an opportunity there," Mark Anscombe said.

"But first and foremost he's got a job to do for us and we've got expectations of what we want from that. It's important for our progress as a team that he keeps growing as a player."

Auckland have an experienced core of players, including a distinctly handy loose forward trio, a seasoned front row and a backline with old hands to balance alongside the tyros.

There are four newcomers in the starting blue and white XV tomorrow: lock Josh Townsend, Mathewson, centre Hadleigh Parkes and wing Francis Saili.

No 8 Peter Saili is unavailable, having had a heart arrhythmia detected a few days ago. He is expected to be available to play Wellington next Saturday.

Three Crusaders from the unsuccessful Super 15 final in Brisbane are in the 23 for the defending champions, who are chasing their fourth straight title. Luke Romano and Ryan Crotty start, with Robbie Fruean on the bench.

In the final game of the weekend, Counties Manukau host Bay of Plenty in Pukekohe tomorrow.