Stensness goes back for a future

By WYNNE GRAY

When Lee Stensness was being wooed by Auckland in the early 1990s, part of the persuasion was that he could take over from Grant Fox at first five-eighths.

Bubbling round that mix were two other key players, coach Graham Henry and another teenage hotshot, Carlos Spencer.

That quartet is still involved in Auckland's NPC campaign but the dynamics have changed. It is not a case of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic - not yet anyway - as the Auckland rugby ship sailed into Invercargill waters for today's meeting with Southland.

Stensness scarcely played first five-eighths for Auckland because on his arrival in 1993 he was switched to midfield while Fox played on, and then stayed there to accommodate Spencer's arrival.

Eventually Stensness moved away for several seasons in France, had a full knee reconstruction and after 18 months out of rugby returned this year.

And in three matches for Auckland he has been picked at first five-eighths, with Spencer given carte blanche to roam and destroy from fullback.

Henry has also been away, coaching Wales, but now has technical analysis responsibilities for Auckland, while Fox is into his second season as assistant coach after other stints with the Blues and Auckland.

After the major knee surgery in October 2000 there was no certainty he would play again.

He was not even sure he wanted to try. At 31, life was pretty good. He and his partner had two children and were settling back into Auckland life.

"I thought I had finished up when I came back from France ... but circumstances happened."

Stensness watched a lot of rugby during his rehabilitation. He was drawn to the sport again and the Blues had a gap in their midfield.

"Once I had an inkling there was an opportunity for me then I really got stuck into it."

He took on the tough climbs in the Waitakeres.

"The fitness thing wasn't that hard but it was tough getting back some of the muscular strength and conditioning. I think perhaps I wasn't quite up to speed there in the Super 12."

But Stensness is in the pivotal role of first five-eighths in the NPC, taking over from James Arlidge as Auckland looked to use Stensness' vision, experience and passing game to unleash speedsters around him.

A decade on after his transfer to Auckland from second-division Manawatu, it is forward to the past.

"One of the selling points was that when Foxy retired I might be first in line but that never really happened because Carlos arrived. And maybe Graham [Henry] assessed that I was better suited to second-five.

"It wasn't hard to give away first-five because it enabled me to play in the Auckland team and it got me into the All Blacks, and I still think if I had stayed at first-five I probably wouldn't have made the All Blacks."

He thinks his restricted kicking game and lack of goalkicking skill would have counted against him achieving the eight test caps he did. But when coach Wayne Pivac asked Stensness to wear the No 10 jersey this season, there was no hesitation.

"I always enjoyed the position more - it is more interesting than midfield."

Stensness believes he plays better when he just lets his instincts go. He looks to make play for others; to keep the ball rather than kick it away.

Stensness wants to press for the next Super 12 and knows if he and Auckland play well in the NPC, that is possible.