Auckland v Waikato
Eden Park, 7.05 tonight
It is time for The Shadow to become a man. Sean Polwart, the highly regarded Auckland openside flanker, faces the toughest challenge of his young career tonight when he stares down the Waikato pack.
Coach Mark Anscombe said: "I've got full faith in him. I was lucky, I was with
the under-20s this year and the forward pack we had with this team was by far and away the best.
"They killed every team they came up against. We've got three boys here [Polwart, Liaki Moli and Angus Ta'avao] from that pack."
When Auckland named their ITM Cup squad, Anscombe predicted giant lock Moli, another under-20 international, would get significant game time but said that Polwart's brief would be a watching and learning one.
With Daniel Braid's sudden elevation to Richie McCaw's understudy on the Northern Hemisphere tour, that brief has changed. "Sean has been fortunate to get what a lot of young players don't get nowadays and that is to spend time with experienced, good players.
"Sean's had all year working and playing with Daniel and he can only but benefit from that. Sean was his shadow for most of the year, so now if you like it's time for the student to step up and see what he's learnt."
Polwart, 20, is pinching himself about the opportunity he has been handed. "It's a huge occasion, one of the biggest games I have been involved with," he said.
"It's been huge to have someone like Dan to learn off at training. To see what he does and the little tricks he gets away with is something I have learnt from this year."
Polwart is shaping to be another Kieran Read in the Counties file labelled 'The Ones That got Away'. Pukekohe born and bred, he still lives there with parents Dave and Theresa.
He followed his brother to Sacred Heart College and started making Auckland age-group rep teams. His allegiance has laid with the blue and white, rather than the black red and white, ever since.
He made his first start for Auckland in their final round-robin clash with Tasman last week. '
Polwart sees himself as an out-and-out No 7, but has noticed that the role is vastly different to what you can get away with at under-20 level. Rather than just tackling and fetching, the key to playing at a higher level is being an effective link man.
"At this level it is just a lot more intense," Polwart said.
Whether Auckland win the ITM Cup or not, they have done something they have perhaps neglected over recent years - put building blocks in place for a bright future.
"One of the great things has been the strength off the bench. The young guys - Liaki, Angus and Sean - they've added size and brought energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes, when guys has been around for a while, that starts to wane a bit."
AUCKLAND v WAIKATO
Auckland
Mark Anscombe
Brent Ward
Dave Thomas
Ben Atiga
Benson Stanley (c)
Chay Raui
Gareth Anscombe
Toby Morland
Peter Saili
Sean Polwart
Onosa'i Auva'a
Liaki Moli
Kurtis Haiu
Charlie Faumuina
Tom McCartney
Tevita Mailau
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Angus Ta'avao, Steve Luatua, Chris Lowrey, Auvasa Faleali'i, Matt Berquist, Winston Stanley.
Waikato
Chris Gibbes
Sosene Anesi
Sivivatu/ Speight
Save Tokula
Jackson Willison
Dwayne Sweeney
Trent Renata
T. Kerr-Barlow
Alex Bradley
Jack Lam
D. Waqaniburotu
Romana Graham
Toby Lynn
Nathan White (c)
A. de Malmanche
Toby Smith
Reserves: Hikairo Forbes, Ben May, Kent Fife, Zak Hohneck, Malcolm Barnes, Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight/ Tim Mikkelson.