Axe hovering as Northland look to make impression

1.00pm

Northland NPC rugby coach Bruce Hodder is starting to sharpen his selector's axe.

Hodder has kept faith with his team to play Taranaki in a first division match here on Saturday, naming the same starting 15 for the fourth successive week.

But there could be significant changes ahead if Northland did not start banking some championship points on Saturday.

"I guess the coach's faith will start to wear thin if they don't start to perform this weekend," Hodder said.

Northland are last in the standings and remain the only team yet to register any points in the first division.

Their heavy loss to Southland in Invercargill last weekend was the first time this season that Northland had performed well below expectations.

Frustrated by the lack of urgency against Southland, and puzzled by a sudden drop in standards, Hodder said the entire Northland squad realised the pressure was on now, not only to secure championship points but to make up lost ground.

He said one-on-one defence against Southland was woeful while the overall performance lacked any significant vitality.

"When guys were excited against Otago and Auckland the performance lifted in the area of defence. But they were out-passioned against Southland.

"I think they are really disappointed that, after working so hard two weeks before that, they let themselves down (against Southland)."

While keeping faith with his starting 15, Hodder has made three changes to the bench.

In the forwards, Craig West, a prop on loan from Waikato, comes in for Stan Wright, while Karl Christensen steps in for Mike von Dincklage.

Manu Burkhardt-Macrae replaces Thomas Toailoa as a backline reserve.

Taranaki coach Keiran Crowley, whose side have won three matches to head the standings, said his players were aware of the danger posed by a Northland side without a win.

"They'll be desperate. It's always a battle up there and it will be the first time in Whangarei for a few of our guys. They'll be welcomed in the usual Northland manner," Crowley said.

Northland: Matt Faleuka, Fero Lasagavibau, Hayden Taylor, Jared Going (captain), Aaron Baigent, Julian Huxley, John Senio, Jake Paringatai, Aaron Wright, Maseke Davu, Brad Taylor, Tim Henwood, Bronson Murray, Tim Dow, Ryan Wederall.

Reserves: Simon Lemalu, Craig West, Karl Christensen, Luke Ottley, Manu Burkhardt-Macrae, Josh Levi, Rhyan Caine.

Taranaki: Scott Ireland, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Matthew Harvey, Shayne Austin, Lifeimi Mafi, Brock James, Brendan Haami, Brent Thompson, Chris Masoe, Reece Robinson, Paul Tito (captain), Johnny Willis, Gordon Slater, Andrew Hore, Tony Penn.

Reserves: Hamish Mitchell, Tama Tuirirangi, Scott Breman, Tomasi Soqeta, Mark Stewart, Chris Woods, Craig Fevre.

- NZPA

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