Auckland have answered a Northland SOS call and sent reinforcements for an Air NZ Cup rugby clash with Taranaki in New Plymouth tomorrow night. Prop Tony Coughlan has been dropped and concerns about holding suitable cover at halfback and first five-eighths have seen three Auckland loan players - Tevita Mailau, BrentonHelleur and Ash Moeke - ushered straight into the 22-man playing squad. It is a strong statement from Northland coach Mark Anscombe, keenly aware his team needs a win after losing three close games. Mailau, who played a full season with Northland last year, marches straight into the starting team. Helleur (halfback) and Moeke (first five) are on the bench at the expense of Kaino Kaino and Derek Carpenter. Annoyed by lineout and scrum problems, Anscombe hopes Mailau, at loosehead prop, will help shore up the front row. The pack has been put through a big week of set-piece training ahead of a tough test against Taranaki. "Tony [Coughlan] is just having a weekend off, shall we say. Ash [Moeke] comes at a time when Derek [Carpenter] needs some game time so we send him to the development and Ash also adds back-up as a goalkicker, which is one area we have been exposed a bit," Anscombe said. The starting backline is unchanged. There has been only one change in four weeks, and that forced by injury when David Holwell did not make the start against Hawke's Bay. Taranaki have similar concerns. They have won one game in four, but could have banked more victories. They are unchanged for the third week running. The game is at Genesis Energy Stadium, New Plymouth, 7.35pm, tomorrow. Northland v Taranaki Jared Payne 15 Aselemo Malo Rene Ranger 14 Paul Perez Aden Dewes 13 Jonathan Spratt Leo Taliu 12 Jayden Hayward Fetu Vainikolo 11 Shayne Austin David Holwell 10 Willie Ripia James Rodley 9 Brett Goodin Blair Urlich 8 Taiasina Tuifua Hamish Paterson 7 Scott Waldrom Justin Collins (c) 6 Nemia Soqeta Marty Veale 5 Jason Eaton Dan Goodwin 4 Craig Clarke Bronson Murray 3 Hamish Mitchell Tyler Ashworth 2 Laurence Corlett Tevita Mailau 1 Tony Penn (c) Northland reserves: Francis Smith, Justin Davies, Roy Griffin, John Cocker, Brenton Helluer, Ash Moeke, Mike Davis. Taranaki reserves: James Annabell, Shane Cleaver, Tom Ryder, Chris Walker, Brendan Hiini, Corey Niwa, Jack Cameron.
