On a night when an All Blacks folk hero first five-eighths returned to New Zealand rugby, a future All Blacks No 10 stole the show.

If Auckland can somehow put out 80 minutes of the sort of rugby they showed for the opening 30, then they will be hellishly difficult to peg in this ITM Cup.

Auckland have 14 changes from the side that pummelled Waikato to face Manawatu tomorrow, but this is not just rotation for the sake of it.

The Counties Manukau Steelers will have plenty of soul searching ahead of them after falling to their fourth straight loss in the Premiership.

Taranaki are slowly but surely regaining the type of form that last season brought a maiden ITM Cup title to the province.

The Magpies are on their way to the Championship final after dispatching North Harbour to retain the Log o' Wood in Napier last night.

Wellington continued to look a class above in the ITM Cup's second tier after crushing Southland 53-3 in Invercargill.

Auckland have showcased their outstanding attacking force, scoring seven tries in an absorbing 50-28 win over Waikato in Hamilton today.

A pair of teams trending in different directions produced the most probable result in Palmerston North tonight.

Two desperate sides produced a stinker of a first half. Even referee Nick Briant told both sides before the break that there had been "some pretty average rugby."

Johnny Fa'auli is a shy, respectful young man, but on the park the Steelers midfielder has already shown that reputations do not overawe him.

The Blues' 2016 coaching jigsaw is complete. Now for the players.

North Harbour are on the board, though it would be optimistic to say they are back on track in the Championship.

Waikato's bevy of stars in the making put on a masterclass in Tauranga today, crushing Bay of Plenty 43-10.

Wellington were clinical, Northland were clunky as Wellington made it two straight games conceding zero points.

An 83rd minute try has capped off a remarkable second half Otago comeback as they toppled Taranaki.

The Magpies scored four tries and could have had at least three more, such was their dominance.

The 24-year-old batsman is contracted to the Northern Knights but he is enjoying another gig at the moment - playing halfback and kicking goals for the Auckland rugby team.

The Makos move to 3-0, top of the Premiership, and deservedly so after repelling the promoted Turbos in Blenheim.

Piers Francis is one of that rare breed of modern day first fives.

Bay of Plenty have continued their impressive start to the ITM Cup season with a win over Southland tonight.

The All Black will get a run out for Bay of Plenty tomorrow night against Southland.

Auckland coach Paul Feeney hopes both his Charlies play against Canterbury on Saturday, but then doesn't want to see them again in 2015.

Canterbury have edged out Counties in a clash which was an absorbing contrast.

Auckland will win matches much easier than this without dominating as much as they did against the defending champions.

All Black fullback Israel Dagg helped himself to a hat trick of tries as Hawke's Bay took down Otago tonight.

The geographic opposites produced a compelling contest packed with brilliance, errors, attraction and repulsion.