Season rollercoaster ride for NPC coaches

By WYNNE GRAY

Spectators have had a capricious NPC season but nothing quite like the turmoil coaches have endured.

Some can handle form fluctuations, others have become accustomed to erratic results, and Taranaki coach Kieran Crowley is trying to make some sense of the wayward standards.

Unwittingly Crowley has contributed to the state of the NPC.

As one of the All Black selectors he was involved in the decision to keep the World Cup squad away from most of the NPC matches.

That choice has not affected Crowley's Taranaki side- they have not lost any players to the national squad, although today's opponents, Auckland, are missing nine - but it has created a fluid series.

Crowley is perplexed by Taranaki's inconsistency and is battling with his own reactions. "Certainly it has been a rollercoaster season so far," he said of his first year in sole charge.

"As a player you feel like you can have some sort of impact during a game but as a coach you can't do anything about it.

"I feel drained at the end of matches and I haven't even played."

Like many coaches, Crowley appears unfazed when television cameras hone in on him during games. "It is not like that on the inside, because your whole week is aimed at 80 minutes of rugby."

Taranaki and Auckland sit in the congested middle of the NPC points table. A victory for the home side in New Plymouth today would have Auckland in danger of missing the playoffs to defend their title.

Auckland have Sam Tuitupou return to the midfield after a shoulder problem, a recall which should help to fix some of the team's defensive fragility.

The question will be whether they can control the pace of the game, structure their game better than some of the error-ridden flighty work so far.

Orene Ai'i will be under heavy scrutiny because his inability to produce a tactical kicking game has told on Auckland in several games. But if his pack can deal with the powerful Taranaki pack, Ai'i can infiltrate any defences.

It is a fine balance for many at this stage.

"Everyone feels like they are in with a runner's chance and you can see that by the fact that, apart from a couple of games, there has not been much between teams," Crowley said.

Taranaki: Daryl Lilley, James Kerr, Matthew Harvey, Bryce Robins, Shayne Austin, Mark Urwin, Brendan Haami; Richard Bryant, Neil Crowley, Brent Thompson, Reece Robinson, Paul Tito (capt), Gordon Slater, Andrew Hore, Tony Penn

Res: Daniel Smith, Tama Tuirirangi, Scott Breman, Brendon McGlashan; Craig Fevre, Sam Young, Mark Stewart.

Auckland: Ben Atiga, Iliesa Tanivula, Tane Tuipulotu, Sam Tuitupou, Brent Ward, Orene Ai'i, David Gibson; Xavier Rush (capt), Craig De Goldi, Justin Collins, Angus Macdonald, Bryce Williams, John Afoa, Derren Witcombe, Nick White.

Res: Nathan Kemp, Soane Tonga'uiha, Bradley Mika, Sione Lauaki; Craig McGrath, Isa Nacewa, Shannon Paku.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence. Kickoff: 2.35pm. TV: Live on Sky Sport 1.

NPC points table