Rugby: Auckland put hope in All Blacks

Joe Rokocoko has been called to help Auckland gain their first victory of the season. Photo / Dean Purcell

A troubled Auckland have been on light duties this week but they expect an All Black quartet to head the quest for a season-first victory against Northland this weekend.

Loose forward Jerome Kaino joins Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava and John Afoa for the trip to Kerikeri in search of a win to raise the side from the competition cellar.

"We'll just have to see how we go with the judiciary and when the squad comes together again after the All Blacks camp and our rest day," coach Mark Anscombe said.

"There have been a few complications this week and we had about eight guys on very limited work at training."

Fullback Paul Williams and outside back Winston Stanley will face the judiciary in a full day of hearings in Wellington today after being cited for incidents in last weekend's defeat to Canterbury.

Inside back Daniel Bowden has recovered well after being knocked about in that game but he will need to pass a test for concussion tomorrow if he is to be selected.

Captain Benson Stanley was still sore after his return last weekend, Toeava was coming back after a stress fracture in his foot while Keven Mealamu was the only All Black absentee after surgery on a chest muscle.

"It makes it all a bit messy but that's the way it is," Anscombe said.

He was hopeful his players would escape punishment at the hearings but was considering alternate choices in case the decisions did not go their way.

Afoa had been marked down to play for several weeks and Rokocoko had been released by the national selectors. Kaino was not originally on the available list but he wanted to play and received clearance from the All Blacks.

"That has been great and we hope we can do the right thing by them," Anscombe said.

A year ago, Anscombe was coaching the Cambridge Blues when they travelled south to Eden Park for the final game of the season and wrapped up the locals 21-13. At the time, Anscombe was rapt with the result but it was not a subject he wanted to revisit yesterday.

He preferred to discuss Auckland's progress in their second game against Canterbury where he felt they showed much better second half progress though he wanted that to be pushed out to 60 or 70 minutes.

"We have got to get in a full game because Northland will be bringing in a lot of confidence after beating Taranaki last week."

It will be a tough week for Auckland and their All Blacks with their camp and judicial hearings today, a bus ride to Kerikeri on Friday, play on Saturday then travel home Sunday as well as a flight to Sydney for some All Blacks involved in Bledisloe Cup preparations.