Afoa leaves fish and chips behind for front row slot

John Afoa

Tighthead prop John Afoa thought fish and chips rather than rugby would be his fare for the rest of this season.

Surgery and the idea his fledgling career was over were recurring worries five weeks ago as he dealt with severe back pain. He lay on the couch, scarcely able to move after suffering the injury lifting a teammate in a lineout against Waikato.

However, after a week of inactivity, a scan revealed no permanent damage and no reason Afoa should curtail his Auckland and All Black career.

Even then Afoa did not contemplate a return to the Air New Zealand Cup for tomorrow's first semifinal against Wellington.

"When it happened I thought 'fish and chips for the rest of the week' but when they said you might be back in four weeks I had to pull the plug on that and think about playing again," Afoa said yesterday.

"I had bulging on the discs and they said if it was touching the spinal cord it could have been a bit dangerous but luckily it wasn't."

Assured by the medics there was no danger, Afoa began a slow rehab programme, working one-on-one with scrum coach Mike Casey until he was confident he could take part this week in a full-on, gruelling workout.

Afoa admitted he was apprehensive as he eyed the scrum machine. He packed down with just the front row before the locks, then loose forwards chimed in with their power. Some opposed scrums followed and the verdict was emphatic.

Afoa would take his place in an all-international Auckland front row to combat one of Wellington's growing strengths as coach Pat Lam made a variety of changes for this Eden Park showdown.

Wing Doug Howlett and lock Ali Williams were lost to injury, Brent Ward and Daniel Braid were back after rests, Afoa after injury while Ben Atiga was switched to centre in place of Isaia Toeava. One further change beckons with halfback Steve Devine still troubled by a shoulder with Taniela Moa waiting to take his place.

While Auckland have been able to reinstall Afoa, Wellington recalled All Black flanker Chris Masoe, but only as far as the bench.

Ben Herring remains the openside flanker in an unchanged combination although Masoe will get time from the bench in his first match since badly damaging an ankle in the All Black test loss at Rustenburg.

Captain Tana Umaga said the euphoria from the quarter-final win against Canterbury was still evident but that had to be history.

"The challenge for us is to duplicate that performance," he said.

Wellington were close to the Hurricanes side who reached the final of the Super 14 and that sort of experience would be crucial tomorrow.

Rookie winger Cory Jane did not train yesterday because of the risk of infecting a deep cut to his knee but he has been cleared to play tomorrow.

* Waikato will wait until today before deciding All Black Mils Muliaina's readiness for their semifinal against Otago in Hamilton on Saturday.

Muliaina injured a bicep tendon during training on Tuesday. Yesterday was a day off for the players and management opted to give him a break for 24 hours before assessing the severity of the injury.

If there is a chance he can play, he's likely to be bracketed until Saturday.

The same applies to first five-eighths Stephen Donald, who took a heavy blow to a knee in last weekend's quarter-final win over Southland. He was rated a 50-50 proposition on Tuesday and if there is improvement he's likely to be given until Saturday to prove his fitness.

Otago management are beaming after some of their injured platoon made rapid recoveries.

Fullback Glen Horton (rib) and flanker Alando Soakai, thought to have suffered a fractured eye socket, are chances to start. Soakai's injury is not as bad as first feared and both are decent chances to play on Saturday.

AUCKLAND V WELLINGTON
Eden Park, 7.35pm tomorrow

Auckland

Brent Ward
Isa Nacewa
Ben Atiga
Sam Tuitupou (c)
Joe Rokocoko
Tasesa Lavea
S Devine/T Moa
Jerome Kaino
Daniel Braid
Andrew Blowers
Kurtis Haiu
Brad Mika
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu
S Taumoepeau

Wellington

Shannon Paku
Ma'a Nonu
Conrad Smith
Tana Umaga (c)
Cory Jane
Jimmy Gopperth
Piri Weepu
Rodney So'oialo
Ben Herring
Jerry Collins
Luke Andrews
Ross Filipo
Neemia Tialata
M Schwalger
Joe McDonnell

Auckland: Derren Witcombe, Nick White, Joe Tekori/Jay Williams, Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a, Taniela Moa/David Gibson, Isaia Toeava, David Smith.

Wellington: Luke Mahoney, John Schwalger, Jeremy Thrush, Chris Masoe, Alby Mathewson, Miah Nikora, Lome Fa'atau.