Tough-talking Auckland dismay the Bay

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland will review their policy on loaning players to first-division rivals because of the furore before Saturday night's NPC clash against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua.

Auckland have loaned lock Jason Chandler and midfield back Dale Rasmussen to BoP but will not let them play in the second-round match.

That has upset BoP, whose chief executive, Jon Brady, claimed it was a "big shock", but the protests could backfire if Auckland stop their loan policy altogether.

Auckland have loaned players to provinces such as Taranaki, Counties-Manukau and even Waikato in the last few years. At least one, Steelers front rower John Akurangi, has played against Auckland.

But Auckland's refusal is not unique - Canterbury recalled lock Peter Bowden for Nelson Bays' Ranfurly Shield challenge.

New Auckland chief executive David White said that the NPC was highly competitive, as shown by BoP's win over champions Wellington last Sunday.

If BoP wanted players fulltime, they could pay the transfer fee. It would cost BoP up to $15,000 for Chandler and $5000 for Rasmussen.

White was in charge of Wellington last year when Lome Fa'atau was prevented from starting for Taranaki against them in the NPC.

He said that was an agreement between the coaches of the provinces, who are Hurricanes partners.

While Auckland did give concessions to their Super 12 partners - Northland have fielded players such as Samiu Vahafolau against Auckland - they would not give future dispensations to non-Blues unions.

It is also understood that Auckland helped BoP secure Rasmussen when he wanted to go to another province this year.

White said: "In the light of this we will probably reconsider our policy about loaning players to first-division unions outside of the Blues. If they won't accept the loan conditions we don't want to keep going through this annually.

"This is highly competitive with a lot at stake and we will only make concessions to our Blues partners, which is in our interests. We want every edge ...

"We have loaned 13 players this year and will continue to do so to second and third-division provinces. But we will review the policy with first-division sides at the end of this season."

BoP coach Gordon Tietjens said Rasmussen and Chandler had wanted to prove points to Auckland.

"Dale and Jason are really disappointed, and so am I because they're two key players," he said.

"Auckland didn't want them as part of their NPC campaign and then they turn around and say they don't want them playing."

But Brady admitted that BoP had to get used to life in the fast lane.

"It's a new ball game for us and I guess we're finding that out in a hurry," he said.

"Our long-term aim is to be out of the loan market but we're still a developing union and our goal this year is one of survival."

* Auckland lock Bradley Mika has been ruled out for up to a month because of a knee injury.