Auckland set sights on hat-trick

Daniel Braid in action for the Blues in the Super 12 this year. Picture / Fotopress

Becoming the only New Zealand side to knock off the Lions' mid-week combination will provide one part of an incentive package for Auckland at Eden Park tonight.

The tourists' three losses in nine games have been Saturday night contests.

But Auckland, no doubt having heard the predictions of the Lions copping a belting before a capacity 47,500 crowd, are wary.

They did not need to hear Sir Clive Woodward's words that third-test spots are available for those playing tonight to know it won't be easy. At least, it shouldn't be.

"We're expecting a pretty angry bunch of forwards," said Auckland captain Justin Collins, preparing for his 200th first-class match.

"They will want to step up and prove some points. They will be united and will be wanting to put things right this week."

Auckland's preparation has been limited, in part by the absence of important players such as regular skipper Xavier Rush, laid low by glandular fever, backs Joe Rokocoko, Ben Atiga and Steve Devine, and props Saimone Taumoepeau and John Afoa, who were on Junior All Blacks duty in Australia last week.

"It's been hard, but I'm sure we'll make up for it with big enthusiasm," Collins said.

Atiga, Rokocoko and Taumoepeau are all bracketed. Atiga injured a shoulder in Australia and the readiness of all three will be known this morning.

Auckland are aiming to make it three successive wins over the Lions, and several players will have individual cases to make to the watching All Black selectors as well.

This time - assuming Rokocoko, Atiga and Taumoepeau all start - there will be seven All Blacks on the field, with Devine, Sam Tuitupou, Brad Mika and Daniel Braid.

But the Lions' mid-weekers have had a reasonable tour. They eased clear of hard-working Taranaki in the second half, were unimpressive but got past a spirited Southland, and walloped Manawatu.

Forget an ordinary outing against Wellington, as that turned out to be the bulk of the first test team and we know what happened to that lot.

Several players will fancy they have a last chance at a test spot this Saturday.

Players such as Geordan Murphy - given a big rap by Auckland assistant coach Shane Howarth yesterday, who recalled from his time in Wales that Murphy was known as "the George Best of UK rugby, an outstanding talent".

Other favourites were first five-eighths Charlie Hodgson, halfback Matt Dawson, prop Graham Rowntree and both locks, Simon Shaw and Ben Kay.

"It will be very clear that those playing Auckland will be playing for Saturday as well," Woodward said. "It'll be a difficult game and we want to go in with a winning philosophy for the test match."

Collins, aware of the affection non-Aucklanders have for the City of Sails, was unfazed by the suggestion that about 30,000 of the crowd will be wearing red tonight.

"It doesn't change a hell of a lot. Playing home games for Auckland, it's always a 60-40 split," he quipped.

Coach Pat Lam talked of the buzz within the squad and the fact that many Lions will be playing their last game in the red jersey. Pride, he suggested, won't allow them to lie down.

But if Auckland - several of whom will be out to impress the All Black selectors - get sufficient ball to work with, they will be right in the hunt, so step forward Mika, Bryce Williams and Angus Macdonald.

Lam is sure his players will have a real crack tonight.

"We don't want to wake up the next morning and say 'what if'."

And ditto that for the third-test aspirants in red tonight.

Auckland v the Lions
1930: won 19-6
1950: lost 32-9
1959: lost 15-10
1966: lost 12-6
1971: lost 19-12
1977: lost 34-15
1983: won 13-12
1993: won 23-18