Counties need Robertson magic

Bruce Robertson's name is writ large in the history of Counties Manukau, from his days as one of the great All Black backs of the modern era.

Today he embarks on his career as an NPC coach, back on his old stamping ground and trying to lift his union back into the first division after their relegation at the end of last season.

Counties Manukau kick off their second division campaign against Manawatu today at Pukekohe Stadium, and Robertson is under no illusions how difficult his job will be.

Chief among his problems is the loss of a cluster of players from last year, players Robertson describes as "a lot of leaders."

"When we played Auckland a couple of weeks ago there were only four of last year's team playing," he said.

Injuries have not helped and Robertson has worked in the pre-season programme - which included games against New Zealand Colts, a Northland XV, King Country and Auckland - on making sure the simple things are done properly.

"We've worked hard on our fitness and getting the basic skills right."



Robertson, who has the job for two years, although still on the Auckland union payroll, admitted he has had a degree of deja vu on returning to his old territory, 20 years after his last game for the union.

"We use the same ground as we used then to train on," he quipped.

"When we got out there I was thinking nothing had changed much."

There is a smattering of quality through the lineup, from former Auckland and Blues squad member Amasio Valence at fullback to the promising Casey Laulala at centre, former Auckland halfback Kevin Senior and rugged Kristian Ormsby at blindside flanker.

But Robertson admitted that getting the first division place back would not be easy.

"Obviously all of us in the second division want to get into the first. That's the ultimate goal.

"But history has proved that the promotion-relegation game [between the bottom first division and top second division teams] is a really difficult obstacle.

"When there was automatic promotion-relegation it wasn't so bad. But the bottom of the first division, from what we've seen, is a step ahead of where we are at now."

But if some of the magic of Robertson the player can rub off on his team, Counties might yet be in the running at the business end of the competition for a quick return back to the top.

In other second division games today, East Coast - minus last season's player of the year Kele Leawere, who has a rib injury - tackle Thames Valley at Paeroa; Nelson Bays, coached by former Springbok prop Balie Swart, play Mid Canterbury in Nelson; and Alex Wyllie's Marlborough are at home to Hawkes Bay.

In the third division, King Country will be chasing their first win of the competition against Wairarapa-Bush at Masterton; West Coast face Poverty Bay in Greymouth; Horowhenua-Kapiti meet South Canterbury at Levin; and Buller play Wanganui in Westport.

Counties: Amasio Valence, Sitieno Sitivatu, Casey Laulala, Gus Leger, Mark Lawson, Steve Dodd, Kevin Senio, Dion Kingi, Craig Glendinning, Kristian Ormsby, Kitione Viliamu, Ramon Lindsay, Alan McLean, Grant Henson, Dave Stewart. Res: Darryn Butcher, Rob Peterson, Pat Segi, Kevin Farrell, Liki Misa, Quinton Sanftt, Niva Ta'auso.