One down - time for Auckland to look at Plan B

By WYNNE GRAY

A week has been a long time for Auckland rugby.

This time last week, the NPC side were upbeat about the season, optimistic they would start with a victory against Taranaki and make the final four.

The second target has not changed, but the first had to be ditched after Auckland fell to an embarrassing 23-20 loss to Taranaki at Eden Park.

Suddenly the expected orderly start to the NPC became a nightmare.

Training took on an extra bite, the pressure rose several levels.

Auckland face a difficult mission tonight against a Northland side buoyed by history and the return of Fijian flyer Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

"It is also a game against another province in the Blues franchise and that adds further spice," Auckland captain Xavier Rush conceded.

"We have put pressure on ourselves to get this campaign up and away.

"There has been a real edge and tension at training this week and we are definitely prepared."

That did not mean Auckland had ignored some of the preparation necessary for the match against Taranaki.

"I think it was just that we began to defend our lead instead of continuing to attack," Rush suggested. "At no stage did we take Taranaki easily.

"It will be the same against Northland, who play a similar game with a willing forward pack and a couple of fliers out wide."

Northland have both Fijian speedsters, Fero Lasagavibau and Rupeni Caucaunibuca, in action tonight.

Caucaunibuca is back from his isolated island village where he was nursing his sick father.

At Eden Park last season, it was Caucaunibuca who outflanked Auckland to score in injury time.

On-loan five-eighths James Arlidge kicked the conversion and gave Northland a historic first NPC victory against Auckland.

Arlidge has been repossessed by Auckland, but demoted to the bench for this match because of Northland's dossier on his play.

Doug Howlett, Auckland's only regular All Black, is out of the side with a leg strain.

His place - and the job of marking Caucaunibuca - goes to former New Zealand A representative Justin Wilson.

Northland will fancy their chances, especially playing at home and at at night.

If halfback Sam Pinder and five-eighths Jared Going can find some control and territory, Northland's hopes will be even brighter.

They showed enough glimpses against Otago to suggest they will trouble a number of sides.

Auckland have replaced Arlidge with Lee Stensness, rather than the vastly experienced Carlos Spencer.

The rationale involved Northland's knowledge about Arlidge from his loan season and Stensness' stronger defence.

But tackling and tactical kicking have never seemed to be among Stensness' strengths.

The reluctance to use Spencer as five-eighths indicates he is a shade short of match fitness after his hamstring troubles, although he will have to do the goalkicking.

Auckland's danger will be that they try too hard to rectify their first-round defeat.

Northland will have to trust their regular gameplan, rather than biffing the ball to Caucaunibuca and asking him for a repeat victory.