Rugby: Morland ready to face old Otago mates

Toby Morland (centre) says Auckland will need to be ruthless to make the playoffs. Photo / Greg Bowker

Toby Morland knows a bit about Otago rugby and is filling his Auckland knowledge bag quickly.

Those elements collide tomorrow as Auckland look to continue their quest for a semifinal berth in the ITM Cup, while Otago want something to turn their way so they can clear the cellar in the competition.

Morland is a well-travelled halfback, beginning his provincial career with Otago in 2002 before slipping on Highlanders, Chiefs and Munster uniforms. After a six-month stint with Munster last year, the 30-year-old returned to pick up a deal with Auckland and he hopes some connection to the Blues for next year's Super rugby series. But first is the visit from some of his old mates down south.

"With the new coaches coming in and a lot of friends down there I was hoping they would do a bit better but it has been a tough season for them," he said. "I have not seen a lot of their games but the results aren't great."

There would be no compassion from Auckland, not a chance. They wanted to make the playoffs and had to be ruthless about that target.

"You can see things like Manawatu almost beat Waikato so there is a lesson there for us," Morland said. "There are so many good players in New Zealand and on their day if they fire they will be dangerous."

Morland spent seven years immersed in rugby down south before testing his luck elsewhere.

"Playing up here has been great but it has also been frustrating how we have played," he said. "But we have always been in the top half of the section. Sometimes it feels we are not going so well but we are still up there on the points table."

Auckland coach Mark Anscombe has made some alterations to his side, bringing John Afoa back to tighthead prop after his stint as hooker for the Bs last round and reclaiming Onosai Auva'a at blindside with All Black Jerome Kaino returning to his non-playing role.

Brent Ward resumes at fullback, Isaia Toeava starts at centre and Morland at halfback.

"Otago look after possession well, they are always in games, it's just they have not finished games off," Anscombe said. "They have not won up here for a long time either and that can be the sort of motivation they need. We have to win. It does not matter who we are playing and where they are in the competition, if we don't win our last two games we won't be in the semifinals."

The close call for Waikato was a timely reminder about the team's task at Eden Park tomorrow.

Toeva was ready to start. He had recovered well from his subs role last week, he was under 100kg for the first time since he left school and he had to be in the All Black selectors' sights.

"He is a class player and we saw in a short space of time what he can do but we have to make sure we give him opportunities rather than just expecting him to win the game for us," the coach said.

Having Toeava and Joe Rokocoko out wide gave the backline some confidence which had not always been there this season. The forwards had been consistent but the backs had lacked some fluidity. They had struggled for rhythm, some players such as Dave Thomas and Winston Stanley had come from long injury breaks into the ITM Cup without any club rugby, and long periods of wet weather had also been unsettling.

"Maybe we unearthed something in the last half hour against Counties to give us some more confidence," Anscombe said. "The rest of the season is about us and making sure we get our shares in order and move on."

Auckland v Otago
Eden Park, 2.35pm tomorrow

Auckland
Brent Ward
Dave Thomas
Isaia Toeava
Benson Stanley
Joe Rokocoko
G. Anscombe
Toby Morland
Peter Saili
Daniel Braid (c)
Onosa'i Auva'a
A. van der Heijden
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Ash Dixon
Charlie Faumuina
Reserves: Tom McCartney, Angus Ta'avao, Liaki Moli, Sean Polwart, Brenton Helleur, Matt Berquist, Winston Stanley.

Otago
Joe Hill
Ryan Shortland
Josh Tatupu
Glenn Dickson
Fetu'u Vainikolo
Chris Noakes
Sean Romans
Paul Grant
Alando Soakai (c)
Hoani Matenga
Hayden Triggs
Tom Donnelly
Halani Aulika
Peter Mirrielees
Sam Hibbard
Reserves: Wyatt McKay, Scott Manson, Seko Kalou, Brad Cameron, Johnny Legg, Paula Kinikinilau, Andrew Parata.