Stop-start Auckland have plenty to work on

By WYNNE GRAY

AUCKLAND 53 SOUTHLAND 17

Was this an ideal dress-rehearsal for Auckland's next assignment against the defending NPC champions, Canterbury?

Was it a promising fillip, or did Auckland's basting of Southland create the danger of overconfidence in a side who have yet to meet their major rivals in the competition?

Coach Wayne Pivac did not feel threatened by any lack of material with which to prepare his squad for Friday's match at Eden Park. His dossier, and those of assistant Grant Fox and technical analyst Graham Henry would be full, even after such a winning margin.

There was a list of merit marks and a counter-balancing register of facets that need improvement. It was little different from any week in the life of a rugby coach.

After indifferent openings in the last two matches, Auckland began with a fiery ebullience which Southland could not match. A bonus point inside 25 minutes stunned the locals, who had given themselves a show of sneaking a win against the northern hotshots.

That opening both impressed and worried Pivac.

"We got out to a quick lead and then got too cute. We went away from the gameplan with too many players doing individual things, throwing 50-50 passes and stuff," he said.

"We loosened up and were too arrogant there for a while."

For a side with a rugged reputation, some of Southland's initial defence was very ragged. But they regrouped and, for the latter stages of the first half and much of the second, they dominated possession.

A significant penalty count helped them but Auckland's defensive ploys stayed intact, except for two straightout misses.

Eventually Auckland got some possession and their winning margin inflated rapidly in the final minutes.

"We certainly had enough to remind the team at halftime about what we wanted to achieve, and those same demands will be there this week in training," said Pivac.

"But it was good that we regrouped and finished the way we did.

"However, if Canterbury get as much possession as Southland got, and the penalty count goes the same way, that will hurt us on Friday.

"For some reason we found it hard to get our hands on the ball for long periods in the middle of the game. However, we showed when we had the ball that we could create and score, that was pleasing."

Auckland played at such a clip and with such precision that the home team had no time to regroup. The big men such as Kees Meeuws and Bradley Mika thundered up the middle, Lee Stensness and Carlos Spencer scooted to other parts.

There was a huge energy and flow about Auckland. But just as quickly, the buzz stopped and Auckland had to use their cluster defence.

Southland had long phases of possession but their attack was too limited to seriously threaten. Eventually they sagged and Auckland bagged another quartet of tries inside the last 10 minutes.

The night before, they had watched Canterbury ease out to a 44-17 NPC victory in a Ranfurly Shield defence against Northland. The holders did as much as they had to, clicking up a gear when necessary.

It is uncertain whether All Blacks Andrew Mehrtens (back) or Caleb Ralph (hamstring) will be fit for Friday but Auckland are sure Doug Howlett and Daniel Braid will recover from their leg injuries.