Auckland flattered by winning margin

By David Leggat

A look at the scoreboard showing 35-7 suggested a comfortable win for Auckland in their NPC rugby match against Southland at Eden Park on Saturday night.

However, it should have been much closer, as Auckland muddled their way through much of the match while Southland squandered a series of chances and suffered for it.

Southland ignored one of the sport's golden rules - the one about taking your opportunities - and Auckland largely did that. They picked up 14 points in the final six minutes to finish with a flourish, while Southland's sole reward for plenty of endeavour and some tenacious defence was a converted try in the final movement of the match.

Auckland began with a roar and both Adrian Cashmore and Michael Jones were held up over the Southland line.

But after their initial 15-minute burst, Southland had significantly the better of the remainder of the half and played with spirit throughout the second half.

They were able to punch holes through the Auckland defence too often for comfort. Their forwards were muscular and effective, they had a better than 2-1 lineout advantage, but fluffed their lines inside the Auckland 22.

Flanker Bevan Leckner, with an open line 10m away dropped the pass; bustling prop Simon Kerr was bundled out at the right-hand corner; flanker Brendon Pascoe bolted through a hole but had no support with the line begging; and Brett McCormack missed two eminently kickable penalties - all by halftime.

When Auckland's backs got moving they had a touch of class about them. Carlos Spencer and wings Iliesa Tanivula and Caleb Ralph all had their moments, and when Spencer darted away on the short side just before halftime, he linked with Ralph before racing the final 30m for the first try.

Auckland's forwards were handicapped by the late withdrawal of Craig Dowd with an ankle injury, while the words Riechelmann and Injury go together like bacon and eggs. This time the big lock was gone before halftime with back spasms.

Still, in hooker Keven Mealamu Auckland have a pocket rocket, while lock Dean Bassett put himself about the field effectively as well. Three times Mealamu, in a very impressive first run-on start, shot clear from close to ruck or maul on charging 25m runs, but the one time he got over the Southland line the try was ruled out for Steve Devine treading on an opponent at the preceding ruck.

Things looked up for Auckland in the final quarter.

First the explosive Tanivula did well to force the ball in the left-hand corner under pressure after a backline move involving two cut-out passes; then Finau Maka benefited from a big overlap as Auckland turned on the heat with a surging charge into the Southland 22; and finally Eroni Clarke, Ralph and Spencer combined over 75m for Spencer's second try after yet another dropped pass spoiled a promising Southland attack in the Auckland 22.

That gave Auckland a bonus point and kept them at the top of the table, but coach Wayne Pivac wasn't exactly beaming after the match "Some of our option taking wasn't that great, no two ways about it," he said. "We were spreading the ball and getting knocked over sideways. But we're encouraging the guys to have a go and it's not always going to come off."

There was a familiar refrain from Southland coach Bob Telfer.

"You can't make that many mistakes. It comes back and gets you, especially against a side like Auckland. They react to turnover ball very well."

The burgeoning Pivac-Fox coaching regime faces a far sterner examination next Friday night in Christchurch. Auckland captain Paul Thomson can't wait.

"We're really excited and enjoying ourselves and just want to hook into it."