Wynne Gray: Why Auckland's going down gurgler

COMMENT

What's wrong with Auckland? The question may be a topic in blue and white rugby circles as the NPC champions sit near the tail of the competition.

But north of the Bridge and perhaps south of Manurewa, the question is probably superfluous. Others might be less charitable and suggest Auckland have merely performed up to standard or got what they deserved.

Whatever the case, Auckland are third from bottom in the NPC table facing a must-win match today against Wellington if they are to repeat their late runs in recent seasons to the playoffs.

You almost need parliamentary privilege to deal with the rumours surrounding this Auckland side, and then there are the theories.

Too many Polynesian players, a rookie coaching staff who are merely pawns for Graham Henry, flash-Harry players only concerned about the money, an over-emphasis on Northern Hemisphere ideas, David Nucifora's imminent arrival and promotion to head coach.

There have also been theories from the coaching staff about captaincy by committee, the need for the All Blacks during the NPC, assessment by video at halftime.

Then there were the experiments like Orene Ai'i as a halfback, Bradley Mika at No 8, Nick Buckley or Jamie Helleur in midfield, the revolving choices.

There is certainly some tension around the squad these days and coach Pat Lam, a thoroughly pleasant father-of-four in his mid-thirties, a former All Black, captain of Samoa and player of the year in Britain, is showing a sign or two.

This week Lam produced a tape-recorder when the Herald spoke to him about his selection for tonight's game against Wellington. It was a throwback to the days when Gordon Hunter taped his media conferences.

Everyone dismissed that idiosyncrasy as the lifelong habit of a former detective. But Lam? He believes the Herald misconstrued some of his early-season comments about multiple leadership and the use of All Blacks, although several observers back the Herald.

Perhaps it is Lam's own method of personal media training gleaned from his former life as a schoolteacher.

Watching Auckland this season, it is easy to see how they have staggered.

After the Blues parent franchise staggered through the Super 12, Auckland opened their campaign with two huge Ranfurly Shield victories against Poverty Bay and Counties Manukau.

A group of young players, with a number used out of position, had an over-inflated opinion of their ability and importance. They played with that self-centred approach and Bay of Plenty's collective strength dealt to them in round one of the NPC.

The Ranfurly Shield disappeared, although it seemed the young Auckland players failed to comprehend the mess.

Auckland's rookie coaching staff could not instil enough work ethic or quell the youngsters' egocentric ideas, and they had to drip-feed the All Blacks into the squad.

Union chief executive David White, however, was emphatic about the NPC tenure of Lam and his assistants, Shane Howarth and Frank Bunce.

"Absolutely. There is no issue, they will be coaching for the season," he said yesterday.

White hedged on whether they would get any assistance. That was their choice, and the Auckland board and executive was very supportive about any of their decisions.

Auckland were always an easy target if they stumbled. They had won the last two NPC campaigns, they had to deal with cultural mixes unlike other provinces, they had to embrace returning All Blacks for the first time in a long while, and they had new, young coaches.

Appointing successors to Wayne Pivac, Grant Fox and technical adviser Graham Henry had been a complex matter.

Henry had been appointed head coach, and others interviewed for the assistant roles last year before the whole deal was put on hold while Henry applied for the All Blacks.

In the meantime, one of Auckland's B coaches from last season, Mark Anscombe, had taken a job with North Harbour.

When Henry was picked as All Black coach, Auckland had to go searching for a replacement.

White would not divulge, but the Herald understands Steve Hansen was also being lined up as assistant alongside Henry at Auckland until they both went to higher honours.

"We appointed Pat Lam and he was the outstanding candidate across the board," White said.

The chief executive accepted Lam had limited coaching experience in Britain, but the ARU felt he had great potential and still believed that. It was a similar situation with assistant Howarth.

During the rocky start to the NPC, White had spent a great deal of time with Lam, reassuring the coach and himself about their progress.

Auckland were facing challenges they had not dealt with for several seasons. They were used to losing All Blacks after the NPC, not having them returned in the middle of the series.

Lam had shown great courage in dealing with an enormous amount of personal criticism, and White said there had been no sign of resentment from the players.

"He is certainly the coach in control and working hard. They [coaches] are certainly not puppets for Graham Henry, that is rubbish."

The 2004 defence, he added, was still alive.