Rugby: Stanley urges cool heads as Auckland seek revenge

Joe Rokocoko scored two tries and set up a third during Auckland's 32-13 win over Northland. Photo / Getty Images

If these days it is becoming harder to remember the specific details of rugby matches, spare a thought for Auckland captain Benson Stanley.

He was in the Auckland side thumped 27-0 by Wellington at Eden Park last September, a game which ended Auckland's latest Ranfurly Shield reign and took the log back to the capital for the first time since Canterbury removed it in 1982.

"That game is probably seared in my memory," Stanley said last night.

But Auckland get their chance to take it back on Saturday night and they'll head south with a bit more spring in the step after getting their national championship campaign off and running with a 32-13 win over Northland in Kerikeri.

Wellington, by contrast, slipped up, beaten 21-17 by table-topping Bay of Plenty in Rotorua.

However, Stanley thinks Auckland should not overly focus on Wellington, but keep their attention more on what they want to achieve.

And given that Auckland's squad includes its share of young players still, in shield terms, wet behind the ears, he's clear on one thing.

"We won't overhype it. We have to make sure they get their heads right and treat it more or less like a normal game," he said.

Stanley played down last year's experience in terms of being a useful preparatory tool.

"It might be motivation for some, but everyone's different," he said.

"We don't have the pressure of having to retain it this time but we'll certainly be out for a big performance."

The emotion of the occasion in Kerikeri - Northland's first championship home game outside Whangarei in 33 years and a community-wide operation of sleeves up, everyone pitching in to help - rather called for a home victory to round off a day to celebrate. But there was no doubting Auckland were well worth the victory.

Returning All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and flanker Jerome Kaino were outstanding contributors to a performance with more grunt and intensity to it than their earlier Air New Zealand Cup losses.

Rokocoko scored two fine tries and set up another, for fellow wing Dave Thomas, and looked sharper, and happier, after a torrid time in All Black colours this season.

Kaino was at the core of a dominant forward pack, and Stanley felt their work was beneficial on a variety of levels.

"The boys around them certainly lift," he said.

"They take confidence from what those guys say.

"It can only be small things, a quiet chat or watching them play, but it works on so many different levels."

However, those two and prop John Afoa won't be around this week, as they are in Sydney on All Black duty.

Wellington will be without their five All Blacks - backs Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison and Ma'a Nonu and No 8 Rodney So'oialo - although after the events of last week, there was no guarantee hard-headed coach Jamie Joseph would have picked them.

Another big plus out of the Kerikeri trip was more progress from young first five-eighths Ash Moeke.

In addition to again demonstrating his classy goalkicking skills, Moeke looked a tidy allround operator who kept Auckland going in the right direction.

"He's quite a classic No 10, has a really good kicking game and his organisational skills are coming on well," Stanley said.

One of Auckland's objectives would have been to take the passionate home town crowd out of the equation, and they did it pretty effectively.

Payne's fine try early in the second half gave Northland hope, but it didn't last long, Auckland making better use of their opportunities.

Kaino had good support from fellow loose forwards Onosai Auva'a and Peter Saili and Auckland generally looked more at ease with their work than in recent outings.

It had been a big buildup for Northland to a game which meant plenty to the union. And while it worked well on a variety of off-field levels, they didn't bring their best game on to the ground.

Things are looking grim for Counties-Manukau after copping a 51-15 walloping from Tasman in Nelson yesterday.

There was plenty to admire about Tasman's performance.

They played urgently, took their chances and captain Andrew Goodman made sure Tasman got full value with a fine goalkicking display which produced 19 points.

Counties-Manukau's defence was frail and, trailing 30-3 at halftime, the game was gone.

Their two tries came towards the finish. Without them, the scoreline would have been dreadful.

In just three games, Counties-Manukau have conceded 119 points. No wonder coach Milton Haig was clearing his lungs at halftime.

This is not a good time to have a poor season, with the New Zealand union blade hovering over the championship.

Jack Cameron had only landed four from nine attempts for Taranaki when he placed the ball for a kick to level the match against Hawkes Bay with two minutes on the clock.

He kept a cool head to get Taranaki a 24-24 draw, in an entertaining match in which they bounced back from trailing by eight points at halftime.

Indeed Taranaki should feel aggrieved when a peculiar decision by Australian referee Nathan Pearce denied back Jayden Hayward what seemed a perfectly good try a minute before Cameron's big kick.

So no pressure, then, on Cameron when he stepped up shortly after to complete a 19-point haul from the match.