Rugby: Waikato's ill fortune no grounds for complacency

Photo / Sarah Ivey

There was a fair bit of consternation over Melbourne way when three yellow cards found their way out of the pocket of Craig Joubert, but it was one dished out by Kane McBride in Hamilton that had the most bearing on a result.

Waikato had been grinding it out against neighbours Bay of Plenty in the national provincial championship, but they had the game well in hand. Suddenly flanker Jack Lam was wrongly fingered for a pseudo-spear tackle and the visitors were back in the game.

It is one reason Auckland coach Mark Anscombe believed it would be foolhardy to apply too much knowledge gained from last week's game to what could happen today at Eden Park.

"They had an unfortunate sin-binning, which cost them points and got [Bay of Plenty] back in the game," Anscombe said. "I didn't think it was spear tackle and they got the wrong guys as it was. That had a big influence."

If you think Anscombe is about to join the growing chorus of those who believe the yellow-card peril has gone over the top, think again.

"I think it's pretty good," he said of the tough stance taken by referees. "That was a bad call, but overall the rules are there and you've got to abide by them."

Anscombe did not believe Waikato had shown their full hand against their neighbours, but then again neither had his side, despite their impressive dismantling of North Harbour.

"It was a typical derby. There was a bit of spite in it, which is good for rugby. It's all about the result, not how you get it. I thought Waikato showed a lot of character, fought out a tough victory.

"I'm sure as the season goes on teams are going to expand their games a bit, but you want to get points under their belt in the first couple of games to get some momentum.

"The breakdown rules have made the game even better, so there's no reason why in a week or two this competition won't be firing."

The biggest danger to Auckland today is likely to be posed by Brendon Leonard's sniping around the breakdown.

Leonard showed only glimpses of his true form for the Chiefs in the Super 14 and appears to have slipped well down the All Black pecking order.

Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu have spots one and two locked up and Alby Mathewson seems to have the inside track for third choice. When you add Canterbury's Andy Ellis and the emergence of Hawkes Bay's Kahn Fotuali'i to the mix, Leonard could be as low as sixth choice.

A strong ITM Cup might start to redress that.

AUCKLAND V WAIKATO
Eden Park, 2.35pm today

AUCKLAND
Brent Ward
Atieli Pakalani
Ben Atiga
Jamie Helleur
Chay Raui
Matt Berquist
Toby Morland
Peter Saili
Daniel Braid (c)
Onosa'i Auva'a
A. van der Heijden
Kurtis Haiu
Charlie Faumuina
Tom McCartney
Tevita Mailau
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Pauliasi Manu, Liaki Moli, Chris Lowrey, Brenton Helleur, Ash Moeke, Dave Thomas.

WAIKATO
Sosene Anesi
Henry Speight
Save Tokula
C. Lealiifano
Dwayne Sweeney
Trent Renata
Brendon Leonard
Steven Setephano
Jack Lam
D. Waqaniburotu
Romana Graham
Toby Lynn
Nathan White (c)
A. de Malmanche
Toby Smith
Reserves: Vern Kamo, Hikairo Forbes, Matt Vant Leven, Alex Bradley, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tim Mikkelson, Sam Christie.