TASMAN v AUCKLAND
Nelson, 2.35 pm tomorrow
Auckland have turned to the versatile Peter Saili as the answer to their openside flanker problems.
Selection in the No 7 jersey gives Saili the full set of loose forward uniforms this season as Auckland travel to Nelson for tomorrow's national championship clash with Tasman.
Saili is the third player
tried in the openside role this season as coach and former loose forward Mark Anscombe searches for some extra spark and consistency at the breakdown areas in the game.
"He is a big unit, he has a lot of urgency about his game and has good pace and we need to get all those things from him in this match," Anscombe said.
Saili started the year as No 8, where he has been tried by the Blues in the Super 14, was then shifted to blindside and now follows Onosai Tololima-Auva'a and Hamish Paterson who have been used as openside flankers.
"At times they have done okay but we want some better consistency not just in small pockets of games," the coach said.
Anscombe has taken the blade to his side, making a number of changes from the combinations which were beaten 16-14 in their last game by neighbours North Harbour. There were further complications with five-eighths Daniel Bowden and prop Paea Fa'anunu dropping out with injuries.
Seasoned Ponsonby club player Chay Raui comes in for his debut on the wing, Winston Stanley slots into centre, Ash Moeke at five-eighths, Grayson Hart at halfback, Chris Lowrey and Dean Budd in the loose forwards and Charlie Faumuina in the front row.
"We have had a fair old rejig it's fair to say," Anscombe said.
"Budd has had four weeks with the development side and is coming back to his game while Chris Lowrey is also starting to hit his game after being out for a while with a broken hand. He was outstanding in the Super 14 but he has been easing his way back and needs to make more impact now."
Anscombe said the focus this week had been on building combinations and making sure they got 100 per cent from the ideas they had.
Injuries had bitten into some of their plans and they were still finding out about some players in the squad whose work had been inconsistent. Patience has run out with halfback Taniela Moa who does not even make the reserves bench.
Auckland used union referee Greg Watson to take them through a session this week because they had been concerned about the level of penalties they had been conceding in this year's series.
"It was very beneficial and we used it as an instructional rather than selection session," Anscombe said.
Tasman had been a very consistent side this year and at home, would present a very difficult challenge for his team.
"They have shown they are a very good mob and nothing would excite them more than kicking the Jaffas' arse and sending us on our way," said Anscombe. "They were beaten last week and in the context of the competition, this is a very big match for both of us."
Young Ash Moeke will slip into the playmaking role for Auckland after Bowden's injury demise.
"He started off well for us this season but has been a little off-colour lately. We hope this puts a bit of life into his game again."
TASMAN v AUCKLAND
Tasman
Sakaria Taulafo
Quentin MacDonald
Tristan Moran
Alex Ainley
Joseph Wheeler
Glen Gregory
Jonathan Poff
Mark Bright
Shaun Begg
Kahn Fotuali'i
James Kamana
Andrew Goodman (c)
Kade Poki
Blair Cook
Robbie Malneek
Reserves: Daniel Perrin, Hamish Cochrane, Anthony Elisala, Zane Winslade, Sione Holani, Afeleki Pelenise, Lucky Mulipola.
Auckland
Paul Williams
Atieli Pakalani
Winston Stanley
Benson Stanley (c)
Chay Raui
Ash Moeke
Grayson Hart
Chris Lowrey
Peter Saili
Dean Budd
Andrew van der Heijden
Kurtis Haiu
Charlie Faumuina
Tom McCartney
Tevita Mailau
Reserves: Pat Leafa, Pauliasi Manu, Jay Williams, Hamish Paterson, Auvasa Faleali'i, Garteh Arlidge, Jamie Helleur.