AUCKLAND v SOUTHLAND
Eden Park, 2.35pm today
This season has not panned out the way Onosai Auva'a thought it would. Not yet.
The flanker gets a second chance at making a statement today when he returns to an Auckland side which has hit a few speedbumps and is hosting a confident Southland team at Eden Park.
Auva'a
is only 24 but began his Super 14 career four years ago and was expected to kick on in the No 7 jersey for the blue and whites once Daniel Braid shot through to Queensland.
He got few games in this year's Super series but provincial coach Mark Anscombe installed him as the premier openside at the start of the national championship. But that arrangement only lasted four games.
"I thought I was going pretty well and then to get axed against Bay of Plenty was frustrating and that has been the same for the last few weeks," Auva'a said.
He kept his fitness up with the development team, retained his determination and has been reinstalled for today's match and personal duel with Tim Boys.
"He is a good warrior, I've played against him before and we've had a few good scraps," Auva'a said. "My fitness is still strong and I will go into this game with a lot of energy but I'll have to be careful I don't overdo it at the start, I don't want to bust a boiler early. I have wondered for the last few weeks whether I would get back in.
"But I have been thinking positively, practising hard with the development team, trying to play well and waiting for my chance.
"I know all about the frustrations of waiting behind someone like Daniel Braid for the last three years and now this." While Auva'a and his colleagues are looking to stem a two-match losing streak, Southland want to break a much longer hoodoo. They have never beaten Auckland in the national championship and have not won at Eden Park since 1939.
They have come close. Co-coach Simon Culhane, a former All Black, recalls being pipped by a point in a Ranfurly Shield challenge in the mid-90s and other close calls.
In nine matches this season, Southland have had a draw and two defeats and have shown setpiece consistency and an all-round game to threaten any opponent.
"We have belief in ourselves, we are looking forward to this and want to make a little bit of history," Culhane said. "Things are tracking in the right direction and with four games to go and opportunities to make the semifinals, this is the time to deliver."
Auckland understand that pressure. They held a clear the air meeting this week in a frank player-coaches review before they vowed to rectify those glitches to make it to the playoffs.
"Southland will not be easy but I'm happy to have a strong game coming back," said Auva'a. "It is up to all of us to show how we compare to those guys. I feel positive and ready."
AUCKLAND v SOUTHLAND
Auckland
Paul Williams
Atieli Pakalani
Benson Stanley (c)
Jamie Helleur
Chay Raui
Ash Moeke
T. Moa/G. Hart
Chris Lowrey
Onosai Auva'a
Jerome Kaino
A. van der Heijden
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Tom McCartney
Tevita Mailau
Reserves: Pat Leafa, Pauliasi Manu, Jay Williams, Peter Saili, Auvasa Faleali'i, Gareth Arlidge, Teddy Stanaway.
Southland
Glen Horton
Matt Saunders
Kendrick Lynn
Jason Kawau
Pehi Te Whare
Robbie Robinson
Scott Cowan
David Hall
Tim Boys
John Hardie
Joe Tuineau
Josh Bekhuis
Chris King
Jason Rutledge
Jamie Mackintosh
Reserves: Fai Mika, Dave Gannon, Hua Tamariki, Noa Soqeta, Sonny Rangitoheriri, Tony Koonwaiyou, James Wilson.