Rugby: It's a worrying job for the coach

By WYNNE GRAY

COUNTIES MANUKAU V WELLINGTON

Worries have increased rather than reduced for Counties Manukau coach Andrew Talaimanu after his side snapped their NPC run of outs.

He knows what desperation can do to teams and last week, finally, was able to see the evidence when Counties held on to beat Chiefs partners and Ranfurly Shield-holders Waikato.

The jinx broken, Counties are again at Pukekohe tomorrow where they meet a Wellington side who spluttered against Auckland and then completely fizzled against North Harbour to leave them outside the top four.

If they are to reignite their NPC hopes, Wellington have to win tomorrow.

"They are such a dangerous outfit, they will be desperate, they have taken a pasting from everywhere lately and that will make them so much tougher as well," Talaimanu said.

Jonah Lomu is back at his old rugby headquarters, though how long Pukekohe stays as the centre of Counties rugby is under scrutiny after a midweek meeting of club delegates and life members recommended the union shift to Pacific Arena in Manukau in 2003.

Talaimanu looks and sounds like a man with more worries than a winning coach.

"Maybe," he said, "I just want our guys to use the confidence they would have taken from the Waikato game and keep it going, we just have to get more consistent."

Wellington just want to win again. Against Harbour they were lacklustre, their organisation was poor, they looked like a cluttered Brumbies arrangement.

They are certainly missing the skills of Jason Spice and Filo Tiatia, but they are absent again tomorrow. They have had weeks to sort out their problems, to bring a simplicity back to their rugby and promote their dangerous backs

Counties Manukau: Loki Crichton, Joeli Vidiri, David Wood, George Leaupepe, Salesi Moimoi, Blair Feeney, Danny Lee (c), Koula Tukino, Glen Marsh, Hare Makiri, Kristian Ormsby, Ramon Lindsay, John Akurangi, Grant Henson, Dave Stewart. Res: Phil Lewis, Patrick Petelo, Peter Epati, Mark Todd, George Stowers, Tai Vailala, Alan McLean/Damon Mark.

Wellington: Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga, Alama Ieremia, Jonah Lomu, Jason O'Halloran, David Holwell, Riki Flutey, Jerry Collins, Kupu Vanisi, Dion Waller, Inoke Afeaki, Semo Sititi, Mike Edwards, Norm Hewitt (c), Kas Lealamanua. Res: Brad Fleming, Paul Steinmetz, James King, Rodney So'oialo, Milton Ngauamo, Shane Carter, Morne van der Merwe.