Rugby: Steelers' record deceptive one

By WYNNE GRAY

After an atrocious opening defeat, Counties Manukau recovered some of their reputation and also survived conjecture about their future in first-division rugby.

The worry lines were very deep after game one, when the Steelers sank to a 15-58 loss against North Harbour.

With fewer player resources than other unions, and a desire to encourage those within their region, the heavy loss put Counties under enormous early pressure.

They wondered whether it was just too much to ask club players to make the jump to NPC, where they were regularly competing against Super 12 representatives.

They also had to find a style which would produce the best from their limited pool of talent, a mix of Counties' flair and some earnest endeavour.

After a tigerish finale when they succumbed 46-48 against Taranaki, a loss which hurt as much as the first, Counties could say they had improved.

Apart from the Harbour game, and those against Canterbury and Northland, they competed strongly.

The ninth-place finish was not too flash, but there were numerous narrow losses and in what had to be the highlight, Chiefs partner and Ranfurly Shield-holders Waikato were beaten.

It gave Counties no pleasure to start their Super 12 partner's slide out of semifinal reckoning, but they rated their solitary NPC victory highly and reckoned they should have had a couple more.

Otago were pressured, Auckland and Taranaki just survived, while they rued some ordinary play and discipline which cost them a win away against Southland.

Those who skim the record books in future will not know the circumstances of the defeats, but the coaching staff and players have been encouraged by the 2000 season.

But the future will not be any easier. There is little money in the union to delve into the transfer market in November, to shore up a few deficiencies.

A vote has decided that the union will move headquarters in 2003 to Manukau, but without results, crowds may still bypass Counties' matches at a new stadium.

Crowd numbers this season at Pukekohe have been mediocre, the best almost 6000 for the Auckland game.

Maybe it was the Sunday fixtures, perhaps the draw which kept the fans at home, but victories would turn round some of that apathy.

The union has to secure the players they have or persuade the New Zealand Rugby Football Union to help out. Then they have to strengthen and build on their squad.

Joeli Vidiri is on loan from an Auckland contract, but is likely to be recovered for Counties and the Chiefs. A prop and a quality backline director would also be a great help.

Departing noises are quiet, though centre George Leaupepe is set for an Otago and Highlanders arrangement.

Quality work came from flanker Glen Marsh, fullback Loki Crichton, until he was badly injured, halfback and skipper Danny Lee, with new NZ Colts lock Kristian Ormsby a revelation after a previous life as a loose forward.

That quartet should be automatic Chiefs selections, while Vidiri, Koula Tukino, Blair Feeney, Ramon Lindsay, Hare Makiri and, perhaps, Jon Akurangi will be pushing hard.

"It is fair to say we need some more depth," reappointed coach Andrew Talaimanu agreed. "We do not have a lot, so our work ethic has to improve significantly to make up for that.

"If we do not win games, we have got to make sure victories are not easy for our opponents."

Counties suffered because they did not quite have the pack to close down a game for 10 minutes, to soak up the pressure and then start again.

"Had we had a pack all season such as that which performed against Taranaki or Wellington, it could have been different, but that is all to do with experience as well."

He hopes Counties will keep most of their players and wonders whether a scheme might evolve which encourages players to stay with their own unions rather than move to Super 12 franchise bases.

There had to be signals that players from lesser unions were not disadvantaged in All Black or NZ A selections.