Auckland can still see the prize

North Harbour's Rudi Wulf lines up Sione Lauaki as the shield-holders were brought down to earth with a bump at Waikato Stadium yesterday. Picture / Sarah Ivey

Auckland memories might drift back a year as their national championship defence gets serious at Eden Park this Saturday night.

Last season, Auckland won the title after qualifying second for the semifinals, and hosted the final after top-ranked Canterbury lost their semi to Otago.

Auckland meet seventh qualifiers Bay of Plenty in the Air New Zealand Cup quarter-finals. They beat the Bay 45-27 on the same ground on August 20, giving away a 20-6 lead before rattling on 39 successive points.

Victory over Canterbury on Saturday night would have guaranteed top spot and three successive knockout games at Eden Park loomed, with the accompanying financial appeal for the union - if they made the final - but coach Pat Lam is happy enough with the way the dice rolled over the weekend.

"You've still got to win your games," he said last night.

"The way we see it, it's finals rugby where we need to step up another gear. First or second, we'll take it. We lost the battle but the war is still to come and the prize is still there for us to go for."

Auckland's preference was for a Friday night game, but chief executive Andy Dalton, who had discussions with New Zealand Rugby Union officials before the schedule was finalised, admitted last night that keeping all home qualifiers happy wasn't easy.

"We've all got a view and they've got some pretty tough calls, so we accept that," Dalton said.

"There is an opportunity at that time slot to get a few of the Bay of Plenty people through so we're pretty relaxed about it."

Lam will check his casualty ward today. Hooker Derren Witcombe rolled an ankle against Canterbury; fullback Brent Ward took a blow to the head; halfback Taniela Moa withdrew with a virus and loose forward Andrew Blowers strained a hamstring before the match.

Southland secured the eighth quarter-final spot in fortuitous circumstances yesterday. From a Northland perspective it was devastating.

Going into their game at Whangarei, Northland needed only to win and prevent Southland getting a bonus point. That would have left them level on eight points, with Northland, as winners of yesterday's game, staying alive.

But first five-eighth Blair Stewart's penalty from a ruck infringement after the hooter made it 19-12 and got Southland the bonus point. It was Northland's first championship win at home since 2002, but that's no consolation.

"To play like that and win, then lose at the same time, is pretty hard to take," Northland captain David Holwell, who passed 1000 championship points during the match, said.

"It is a strange feeling really, you feel proud that we managed to play a good style of rugby but then gutted that we just let it go at the last minute."

Northland rattled on three first-half tries, Holwell having a role in the lot. He scored one after good work by fellow backs Daniel Bowden and Marshall Millroy; he and Bowden's quick hands put lock Daniel Goodwin over, but his rugby acumen was shown in its best light with the first.

Having been awarded a penalty in front of the Southland posts, Holwell appeared poised to shoot for goal. The tee came on but Holwell had not signalled he would use it, instead tapping quickly and flinging a pass to Justin Collins who jogged over the line.

Still, Southland were grinning at the end, the reward being a trip to Hamilton next Saturday night.

Wellington start the knockout stage at home to Canterbury on Friday night. They won their clash a fortnight ago on the same ground 26-24.

A good time, then, for All Blacks captain Richie McCaw to return from his month off. But Canterbury have injury worries over test fullback Leon MacDonald.

QUARTER-FINALS LINEUP

Friday: Wellington v Canterbury, Westpac Stadium, 7.35pm

Saturday: Auckland v Bay of Plenty, Eden Park, 5.30pm
Waikato v Southland, Hamilton, 7.35pm

Sunday: North Harbour v Otago, Albany, 4.35pm