Rugby: Auckland turns to youthful promise

Winger Atieli Pakalani. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Auckland have already claimed the NPC title.

Not the one which will be decided in early November, but the Non-Playing Captain label which will be worn by Benson Stanley, at least for the start of this season.

The 24-year-old midfielder is only just resuming his career after he was badly injured in the opening Super 14 match for the Blues. Stanley tore a tendon from the bone in his leg and after surgery, needed a lengthy recovery period.

"He has been in this team and the Blues for a couple of years. He is a smart guy who analyses the game well, speaks well and is well-respected so it was not a difficult choice," new coach Mark Anscombe said.

"He takes his time and is a well-balanced guy. Our task now though is to get some matchplay into him. He is about a week or two away."

Stanley has played 25 minutes for his club and another brief appearance in a provincial trial, but not enough to don the blue-and-white jersey for tomorrow's awkward start against Hawkes Bay in Napier.

In his absence, Kurtis Haiu will captain Auckland from blindside flanker in a series start which will also double as his 50th game for the province. It will be a tough opening to the campaign.

Hawkes Bay have not beaten Auckland for 35 years, but they are one of the up-and-comers in the NPC and Auckland finished a lame 11th last season after five wins and five defeats.

Anscombe has much the same squad as last season though he does have one interesting newcomer, Atelia Pakalini, who has been chosen in his first year out of Tamaki College. Pakalini will debut on the wing tomorrow after showing strong form in the trial games.

"He's a good kid and doesn't seem to let the occasion get to him so that's a good start," the coach said. "He has been in our academy, he is tough in contact, he does not step back, he has good skills and awareness and we believe he has a good feel for the game."

Three players - lock Andrew van der Heijden, first five-eighth Daniel Bowden and fullback Paul Williams - have been picked after moving to Auckland this year while another transfer, lock Ali Williams, is convalescing after surgery on his Achilles tendon and shoulder.

In scouting the Auckland region, Anscombe and his coaching sidekick Andrew Strawbridge have not unearthed many other players new to the Auckland ranks.

"I was staggered, I must say, after we named our squad, to discover that in our squad of 26 we have no former All Blacks," Anscombe said. "I wonder when that last occurred. We used to have guys like Daniel Braid, Ben Atiga or Sam Tuitupou, but they have gone."

Anscombe thinks he may get John Afoa, Joe Rokocoko and Isaia Toeava, when he recovers from a broken foot, back for some games, but is not counting on Jerome Kaino or Keven Mealamu being involved outside their All Black work.

For the start of the series, Bowden will direct the backline, but if he does not settle in what has been a problem area for the blue and whites, then Ash Moeke will probably be promoted.

"Hawkes Bay away is not the easiest start we could have had for the comp," Anscombe said.

"They will be confident like in everything they are doing with the proposal for Super 15, new stand, there will be a big crowd there and they will be thinking they can get one over us for the first time in a very long time.

"They have a very good side and first-up, we will be going into a real cauldron."