Rugby: Umaga inspires Counties to big win

Tana Umaga is tackled by Glenn Dickson of Otago. Photo / Getty Images

It's far too early to talk about the glory days of the 1980s but a Tana Umaga-inspired Counties Manukau made a hugely promising start to the ITM Cup with a comprehensive win over Otago yesterday.

The four-tries-to-one victory was achieved despite the handicap of two first-half yellow cards.

In front of a boisterous crowd of 6500, Umaga lasted 62 minutes on his New Zealand return, marshalling his defence superbly as he made several crucial tackles.

Counties have long been known for their unstructured, intuitive attacking play but the key to the match was their resolute defence that held Otago tryless until the 77th minute.

The match was over as a contest as early as the 53rd minute when wing Ahsee Tuala scored a 95m intercept try.

Otago were poor and they will need to improve considerably if they are to contest for a top-seven place this season.

It was a clumsy, uninspired effort from Phil Mooney's men - Adam Thomson suggested they "capitulated" during the first half - and if they don't lift for next week's shield challenge it could be a long, hard season.

But the focus was undoubtedly on a certain former All Black captain, and those on Umaga watch could not help but be very impressed. He read the game surperbly from second five-eighths and was a hit with autograph hunters afterwards.

But the 37-year-old admitted he struggled at times after playing in Europe, and coach Milton Haig had to use the promise of a "holiday" next week to persuade him to continue in the second half.

"It is a lot quicker and trying to get up to speed is going to take a while," Umaga said. "Everybody will be trying to have a crack at me but I will be trying to have a crack at them, too - it goes both ways."

"For Luke [Rooney], Sonny Bill [Williams] and myself it will take one or two games to get used to the pace here."

Umaga said it was all about building a fortress at Pukekohe.

"Winning at home, in front of our supporters, was a big motivation and I think it is going to motivate us for the rest of the year. We are not a side now that is willing to just let go of games. Defence is about heart and wanting to do it - having that desire to get up, making sure you don't let anyone within that line down. We know we can score tries [from] anywhere but that is only half the game."

After a frenetic but scrappy first quarter, marred by poor handling, the game came to life in the 25th minute with a try to Tuala in the corner. Counties centre Siale Piutau scored seven minutes later, after an Umaga chip kick, but the vocal crowd were buzzing after seeing Tim Nanai Williams score an early contender for try of the season just before halftime.

Counties Manukau 29 (A. Tuala 2, S. Piutau, T. Nanai Williams tries; D. Cummins 3 cons, pen)

Otago 13 (C. Small try; G. Dickson 2 pens, con). HT: 22-6.