Auckland to the max

Auckland will need maximum points against Southland tomorrow to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

The northern team handed previously unbeaten Taranaki a 51-22 hiding in what the defending champions hope will be the start of a rousing round-robin finish.

But in their bid to trip the city boys up Southland's coach Phil Young says his side will not be copying their previous opponents and infringing in the lineout.

Southland's lineouts have usually been a strength but at times this season they have struggled, never more so than in last week's Ranfurly Shield loss against Canterbury when the red-and-blacks showed their class and took advantage of some soft refereeing.

Referee Kelvin Deaker, and his touch judges, failed to ensure there was always the required 1m gap between players at lineouts.

Canterbury players took full advantage, squeezing right up on their Southland opposites to dominate the lineouts in a 52-13 win.

Southland lost the lineouts 21-10, and coughed up possession on five of their throws.

Southland Stags lock Hoani Macdonald later conceded his team might have to stop being "so honest" in the lineouts but coach Young insists his players won't try to bend the rules to get any advantage.

"You've got to play within the laws," Young said.

Young and his forwards have worked overtime this week trying to get the lineout set piece working accurately.

It is a key area and possibly one avenue where Southland could look to dominate an Auckland team that need maximum points from their final three round-robin games to make the semifinals.

Brad Mika and Angus MacDonald are not the greatest locks in world rugby, although Auckland have other useful lineout options in All Blacks No 8 Xavier Rush and flanker Jerome Kaino.

Southland will struggle to hold together against an impressive Auckland scrum, headed by All Blacks loosehead Kees Meeuws. So winning lineout ball becomes even more important.

There will be pressure on Auckland because a slip-up would douse their semifinal hopes but tomorrow's team, which includes eight All Blacks, should be able to handle the heat. Even in the lineouts.

- NZPA