Let's get it right say Northland

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A determination to get things right rather than worry about today's game against Counties Manukau at Pukekohe Stadium has dominated Northland coach Bryce Woodward's thinking this week.

"It was such a disappointing effort against Otago," Woodward said of last weekend's match. "Rather than look ahead to this game, we have been looking at fixing things up.

"The defensive effort last week was abysmal, especially the one-on-one tackling. That is something we have worked hard on during the week."

Northland have yet to pick up a bonus point in three NPC outings this season, but Woodward is not overly concerned.

He points to most other first-division teams who have gained their bonus points from finishing within seven points of their opponents rather than from scoring four or more tries.

"We scored three in poor conditions against Taranaki, got two against Canterbury and one against Otago - and botched several other half-chances," Woodward said.

"I'm comfortable we are creating try-scoring opportunities."

Woodward hopes the return of Fijians Fero Lasagavibau and Rupeni Caucaunibuca will bring more tries.

With one win from three matches, Woodward feels his team are on target to reach the two-from-four start they set themselves.

"Two of our games have been against teams we consider ultimate semifinalists. Even without their All Blacks, Canterbury and Otago can call on almost totally professional teams."

Woodward compares the start his team have had, with two of their three games against Super-12-based sides, to that of Auckland, who have played three teams outside the Super-12 bases.

Counties Manukau, after their first-up hiding in Hamilton, faced four successive home games.

With three points - from their 24-24 draw with Southland and the 14-15 loss to North Harbour last week - from the first two of those four outings, they have done reasonably well.

But they must now push on and pick up more points against Northland today and in next week's game against Otago.

While there is, understandably, a reluctance to talk of relegation, the feeling remains that a loss today could send the team into a spiral and make survival, even at this l early stage of the season, a primary objective.