Curtailed squad puts squeeze on

Competition for places in Northland's 2011 ITM Cup squad has intensified, coach Adriaan Ferris reducing his pre-season training squad to 32 for the next stage of selection.
The squad is made up of contracted players and those in the mix to pick up contracts but currently excludes the province's four regular Super-15 players Rene Ranger, Jared Payne, Lachie Munro and Bronson Murray as well as Blues wider training squad member Aaron Bancroft, and Mark Burman, who is on his way back from playing overseas.
A final squad of 28 contracted players must be selected a month ahead of the competition opener against Tasman on July 16 at Toll Stadium in Whangarei.
Players like Karaitiana Vette-Welsh, Warren Dunn and Tane Takalua have been impressive in club rugby to secure places in the squad. "There are several players that have really impressed us during the conditioning period and the club competition and this is their chance to step up," Ferris said.
The nature of this year's ITM Cup competition - with midweek games meaning Northland will play 10 games in seven weeks - means more players are likely to be used than in previous years. The NZRU has lifted the number of contracted players from 26 to 28 to help ease pressure on players and an entire front row will be picked for the new eight-player bench.
Ferris and assistant coach Derren Whitcombe are still in talks with a couple of players who may yet be added to the squad and it is not the end of the road for those who missed out. Some discarded players have been asked to play in academy matches against Auckland and North Harbour and Ferris said good performances there might provide a pathway back into the squad. Bronson Murray is the only Super-15 player still uncontracted but Ferris said he was in touch with the prop who has been sidelined recently with a shoulder injury and talks were continuing.
ITM Cup train on squad: Ryan Caine, Maurice Cooper, Tim Dow, Joel McKenty, Whiria Meltzer, Eric Wihongi (Hikurangi), Warren Dunn, Jack McPhee (Hora Hora), Cam Goodhue, Iwi Hauraki, Dan Mason, Matt Wallis, Reuben Wright (Kamo), Haimona Brown, Cam Eyre, Dan Faleafa, Dan Pryor (Marist), Andrew Ritchie (Mid Northern), Adam Clarke, Ash Moeke, Karaitiana Vette-Welsh (Mid Western), Justin Davies (Moerewa), Matt Harrison, Jeff Kalemani, Dave Vaipulu (Old Boys), Solomon Palu, Tane Takulua, Bryce Williams (Western Sharks), Aterea Davis, Simon Munro, Brendan Ward, Ross Wright (Wellsford).