Rugby: Let's focus on the finish, says Braid

Auckland captain Daniel Braid, just back from injury, is anxious to make up for lost time. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Always play what's in front of you; don't look too far ahead. Such are the weary old cliches for sports teams, as true today as a generation back.

Auckland will surely do that when they kick off their ITM Cup campaign against three-time defending champions Canterbury at Eden Park on Sunday.

But some players might have run their finger down the draw and put a circle around their fixture on August 27, the final round of games, when they face Waikato in Hamilton.

Twice last year Waikato turned over Auckland in the last minute, including a contentious semifinal in Hamilton, won 38-37 by the hosts.

That was decided in injury time, leaving Auckland still chasing their 17th national title and first since 2007.

And that's why captain Daniel Braid pinpointed having the wherewithal to finish games off in the dying stages as an important ingredient for 2011.

"It's that composure at the end of games we have to work on," he said.

He likes the look of the squad, and with good reason.

Not only have Auckland got a core of players with plenty of national championship mileage, or rugby at a higher level, they have four members of the New Zealand under 20 world championship-winning team as well.

So while the likes of fullback Brent Ward, wing Joe Rokocoko, midfielder Benson Stanley and new recruit, halfback Alby Mathewson, with forwards such as Charlie Faumuina, Onosai Auva'a, Peter Saili, Chris Lowrey, Tevita Mailau and Tom McCartney offer a solid pool of experience, much interest will be in that youthful quartet.

First five-eighths Gareth Anscombe, fellow backs Charlie Piutau and Francis Saili and lock Steven Luatua should get plenty of opportunities in a campaign where much of the emphasis will be on managing the players.

It is a short competition and it will be physically demanding.

Coach Mark Anscombe is sure to want to guard against having some of his leading players being banged around before the sharp end of the cup.

"There's only a few days between games, so we're going to really have to monitor the workloads of individuals," Mark Anscombe said.

Take a look at the first week.

After opening against Canterbury, Auckland must play Otago three days later at Eden Park.

This sort of schedule presents a fresh challenge not only for the players, but also for the management team.

Players always want to be playing. Some won't like being told they're sitting a game out, but there is a more important end-game at play this season.

Then there's another issue for Braid, Rokocoko and Mathewson, three men who will still have an All Black glint in the eye with the World Cup around the corner.

It seems a stretch for both Rokocoko and Mathewson, barring injuries, but Braid is a different story.

There's a view gaining currency these days that numbers among the loose forwards are rather interchangeable, that is there's no need for a specialist openside flanker to back up captain Richie McCaw.

There is a counter-argument.

Among the more vociferous is outstanding former All Black No 7 Josh Kronfeld, who is a firm proponent of having a true-blue opensider in reserve.

Braid's Super 15 campaign was wrecked by a fourth-round neck injury against the Force. He made it back just before the end of the competition, so he's fizzing to make up for lost time.

"I've played 30 minutes first-class rugby in the last three/four months so I'm keen to get back out there. There's so much to play for over the next few weeks."

It's all been a bit rushed, but Braid pointed to a good culture within the setup, which helped the players slip back into domestic championship mode. Hopes are high, once again.