OTAGO v AUCKLAND
Carisbrook, 2.35pm tomorrow
Coach Mark Anscombe oversees all areas of his Auckland team but does admit to taking an even keener interest in the work of his loose forwards.
Back when he was a founder player for North Harbour, Anscombe was an opensider who helped the side rise through adversity to the top
levels in the national championship.
He has no doubts that the battle at the breakdown and the tussles for loose ball will be a key factor in tomorrow's outcome when Auckland travel to Dunedin to play Otago at Carisbrook.
"Your set piece is crucial but the key to me is the breakdown," he said after naming his side.
He has retained young flankers Hamish Paterson and Daniel Faleafa for this sixth round of the national championship, giving them what he hopes will be a chance to shine in dry conditions at Carisbrook after their wet-weather show last round.
"It is all about being abrasive at the breakdown and being smart at it so you don't have to overload it but you are still getting the quality of ball," Anscombe said.
"So you want the quick ball and you also want to slow the opposition ball down. I think the teams which have been winning, you find in all games, are winning the breakdown.
"We want to create competition and we have not wiped our hands of the others but we are saying we do have options and if you do not play your A game we have choices."
Faleafa was a mobile lock who played a physical style of game and could also slot into blindside flanker or No 8, while Paterson was a young man coming through the ranks.
The coach felt he was getting closer to sifting his top 22 midway through the competition.
He was getting a better understanding of the players he needed in the Auckland squad, what they were working at and what they were capable of.
He felt the squad was also getting more attuned to the coaches and what they demanded from their players in each position. "It takes time because coaches all want different things, but it is getting there," Anscombe said.
Auckland had to show they could stand up again this week without their All Black quartet of Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino and John Afoa.
"I guess the pleasing thing was that last Sunday we did a good job up front in the first half to lay the foundation and we only had one All Black in the pack."
Otago were a bit like Auckland. They were improving with each game and they had a loose forward group which would make them a formidable opposition. Auckland's forwards had to show their inner-belief for tomorrow's tussle with the home pack.
"We have to keep the momentum."
Halfback Taniela Moa survived a team run yesterday and was cleared to travel. Otago will have the benefit of extended All Black squad members Adam Thomson and Tom Donnolly in their team before they join the national squad in Hamilton.
OTAGO v AUCKLAND
Otago
Ben Smith
Karne Hesketh
Brett Mather
Aaron Bancroft
Ryan Shortland
Chris Noakes
Sean Romans
Paul Grant
Alando Soakai (c)
Adam Thomson
Tom Donnelly
Hayden Triggs
Sam Hibbard
Jason Macdonald
Kees Meeuws
Reserves: Peter Mirrielees, Keith Cameron, Hoani Matenga, Steven Setephano, James Kenny, Glenn Dickson, Andrew Parata.
Auckland
Paul Williams
Atieli Pakalani
Jamie Helleur
B. Stanley (c)
Dave Thomas
Daniel Bowden
Taniela Moa
Peter Saili
Hamish Paterson
Daniel Faleafa
A. Van der Heijden
Kurtis Haiu
Tevita Mailau
Tom McCartney
Pauliasi Manu
Reserves: Francis Smith, Paea Fa'anunu, Jay Williams, Onosa'i Auva'a, Grayson Hart, Ash Moeke, Winston Stanley.