Staunch Muir keeping focus on win for Waikato

By WYNNE GRAY

The future? Personal aspirations? Deon Muir was asked some thorny posers after leading his side to join Auckland in the NPC final.

It is a topic which will provoke greater speculation the nearer Saturday's North Island showdown gets. But Muir remains staunch.

The Waikato captain is close to one dream of winning the NPC and is not about to derail that with talk about the All Blacks or a contract in Japan.

But prospects for the Waikato and Auckland finalists, and speculation about how many individuals within that neighbouring mix push on to the All Blacks on Monday, will flood sporting debates this week.

There will also be the background niggle about Deacon Manu's allegiance next season. Mediation has not worked. Perhaps he could pledge his labour to the victor.

Questions will come about the exit of last year's finalists, Canterbury and Otago, and whether that is reason to suggest a shift in the rugby order or simply a shuffling of the pack.

It is time for crystal ball-gazing.

Auckland are all about the future after their rousing semifinal victory.

Young men such as Ali Williams, Bradley Mika, Daniel Braid, Sam Tuitupou, Mils Muliaina, Ben Atiga and Brent Ward went to Christchurch with the conviction of youth.

Captain Xavier Rush is still a callow leader. They were unencumbered by history, they were going to deal to the Canter-Blacks. And how.

As quickly as Auckland have become the side to be wary of, Canterbury have subsided. That is one perception about life beyond the rugby rainbow Canterbury have painted in recent seasons.

It is a dangerous assumption.

The defending champions were laboured in their semifinal. They have been blunted by their programme and were dismembered by the vibrant visitors.

But writing off any squad overloaded with All Blacks, a number of them still youthful, is an unwise practice. Many of those players have dipped in form, but it would be perilous to assume they will not recover.

It is also hazardous to believe the patterns of this season's NPC will flow into next year's competition because that series will be messed up by the World Cup.

On Friday night, Canterbury came second because the Auckland forwards busted them apart, keeping the ball alive rather than sinking into the tangled murk of rucks or mauls.

To compound the home-town troubles, Carlos Spencer continued his spicy form and Andrew Mehrtens had a shoddy match.

He was not a lone disappointment in the red-and-black ranks, but when Mehrtens' game goes sour his sides usually lose.

So if many of Canterbury's internationals are jaded, what should that mean for the selection of the All Blacks?

It should mean those who are off the pace are left at home. That will give others a chance to state their credentials.

Judging the jadeometer will be the tough part for the selectors and there must be questions about why some Cantabrians cannot return in three weeks for the opening test against England.

Maybe they have been "told" they are tired or injured. If they stay home it will give them time to freshen for their overlapping Super 12 role. That is an advantage and the wonder is how many of their replacements will be simply expendable after this trip.

Waikato and Auckland's continued progress in the NPC will give their players another chance to persuade the selection panel they can make the 26-strong touring group.

Meanwhile, Waikato will need to hold the bulk of their side to consolidate their progress this season.

They are losing Royce Willis and Bruce Reihana to overseas deals and if Muir joins them as well, and Manu is forced out after his contract wrangle, Waikato's future looks a little strained.

But the union has done well to staunch the problem, after even more players threatened to transfer out of the province or head overseas.

Worries about coaching staff and the Chiefs' longevity in the Super 12 drew the long-term agitation.

But the players have bonded under Ian Foster. They have played provocative, attacking rugby.

Selections this week will intrigue. Keith Lowen and Regan King served an attacking purpose against Otago, but a Mark Ranby-for-King swap may come this Saturday to defend against Auckland's midfield menace.

Losing Royce Willis and David Hill to injury will reduce Waikato's chances.

Otago reached the playoffs and while co-coach Greg Cooper denied that was an over-achievement, that elevation seemed a fair result from his troops.

Auckland and Waikato have never met in a division one final since the playoffs started a decade ago.

The NPC began in 1976 and while Waikato have a single triumph, Auckland have won 12 championships.

When All Black coach John Mitchell held the trophy aloft as Waikato captain in 1992, it was at a downtrodden ground in Hamilton.

Another No 8, Deon Muir or Xavier Rush, will do the honours on Saturday night in a sporting arena which is now a first-rate host for the greatest prize in domestic rugby.