Rugby: Shield prospects on the rise

Mark Anscombe. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland's situation looks far healthier as they eye a Ranfurly Shield challenge this week.

The visitors will have time for only one full training run before they leave for Thursday's match against Southland in Invercargill.

But that truncated schedule is balanced with the likely return of two All Blacks and openside flanker Onosai Auva'a.

The looseforward damaged his knee in a practice ground accident a few weeks ago and it was feared he might not return until near the playoffs. However, Auva'a played half a game for Auckland B at the weekend and is expected to get through more work this week.

His return will help balance concerns about No 8 Chris Lowrey, who hurt his knee during Auckland's mixed performance in their latest bonus point win against Manawatu.

All Black midfielder Benson Stanley got time in that game and looked much more at ease than he had during his workout against Canterbury earlier in the ITM Cup competition. He should push for a starting place in midfield, while fellow international John Afoa will also be available for the Shield challenge.

Coach Mark Anscombe was coy about selection intentions, but forthright that Auckland's main focus this week would be about claiming national championship points.

"The Shield is a bonus, we have to concentrate on getting results in this competition so that we can get into the semifinals," he said. "Not everyone gets a challenge and it is great to have that chance but we are also about getting points to be near the top of the ladder."

This will be Southland's sixth Shield defence after repelling North Otago, Wanganui, Otago, Counties Manukau and North Harbour.

The southerners tuned up for this match with a gritty defensive win on the road against Waikato as they showed the sort of attitude which has taken them to the lead in the national championship.

Auckland also have a strong defensive record, having yielded only one try in their last three games and just nine for the year. Their problem has been accumulating tries.

"This is a real marker for both of our campaigns," Anscombe said. "This challenge will mean the world to Southland, they will have a full house down there and they are playing with some real grit. They took the Shield from Canterbury and the whole region enjoyed it over summer.

"Now they are leading the competition, they have defended the Shield a few times and if they can beat us that will be another huge boost.

"Then they have Canterbury and Wellington after us."

Auckland took it easy yesterday with some recovery work and plenty of tactical planning for their challenge.

"We're not going to achieve much running around a rugby field at this stage," Anscombe said.

"We will have our major run on Tuesday, name a team and then head off the next day. It is all about making the players aware of what we need to do and freshen them up."

This is only the second time in seven years as coach that Anscombe has prepared a side to challenge for the Shield after Wellington beat Auckland by a point last season.