Bay wary of 'sharp' Auckland

Ben Castle

Bay of Plenty might be asking a bit much for Auckland to give them another generous welcome to Eden Park this weekend.

The last time the Bay came calling, they were 20-6 up in their fourth round of the Air New Zealand Cup clash in August.

History threatened to repeat. Two years ago, almost to the day, the Bay walked off Eden Park clutching the Ranfurly Shield after a famous 33-28 win.

This season, the Bay imploded. Two loose forwards were sinbinned in quick order and Auckland rattled on 39 unanswered points to squash any notion of another boilover.

Last weekend, Auckland spotted Canterbury a 24-6 halftime lead and couldn't quite make it up. But Canterbury - in Christchurch - and Bay of Plenty are vastly different challenges.

For Bay captain Ben Castle, there's two ways of looking at what happened in that earlier clash this season.

"It showed we can go up against a side like Auckland and score points," the tighthead prop said yesterday.

"But, in saying that, this is the other end of the competition and Auckland have got their marquee players back."

Indeed Auckland coach Pat Lam could name around 12 All Blacks for Saturday; the Bay none. On paper, the odds on a Bay win are enormous. They have a decent forward pack and some enterprising backs whose best years are ahead of them.

Later this month, Super 14 squads will be announced. Several Bay players will be selected, if not necessarily in the Chiefs franchise then through the draft.

Props Castle and Simms Davison, lock Mark Sorenson, loose forwards Tanerau Latimer, Colin Bourke and Nili Latu and backs Anthony Tahana, Jamie Nutbrown and Murray Williams are sure to have figured in the scribbled jottings of Super rugby coaches.

But Castle shies away from the notion of using Saturday's match as a trial for individuals to put up their hands. "Successful teams get players into a higher level and the guys are more concerned about this team. We've got this far by working together than through guys thinking about their own aspirations."

The Bay have won six games on the trot after losing their first three. But there's a catch.

"It's certainly given us a good run-in but those wins have been against the smaller unions," Castle said. "We haven't played a big union for seven weeks and we're up against an Auckland that's looking pretty sharp."

Auckland have some injury concerns over hooker Derren Witcombe and fullback Brent Ward. Witcombe sprained both ankles against Canterbury last Saturday.

"They're quite swollen and puffed. We will leave it until Thursday to see if he is fit," Auckland doctor Stephen Kara said yesterday, although he felt it unlikely Witcombe would play.

Ward was concussed in the same match and is off any physical activity until tomorrow. Testing yesterday gave some abnormal symptoms and he will be reassessed tomorrow. If he passes, he will be on track to play.

The good news is backup halfback Taniela Moa is over a viral infection and loose forward Andrew Blowers is fit and available for Saturday.

Bay's recent run

beat Manawatu 27-16
beat Hawkes Bay 35-7
beat Counties Manukau 38-11
beat Taranaki 20-16
beat Tasman 23-17
beat Manawatu 33-15
lost to Auckland 45-27

* Keith Robinson will not start in Waikato's quarter-final against Southland in Hamilton on Saturday night.

The rugged lock has made a strong impression in his two games back after a long layoff with a back injury but Waikato are keen not to push the former All Black, who had a cortisone injection and fluid drained off a knee before Sunday's game against North Harbour. They realise it is a tall order to expect him to play potentially five games on the trot if they reach the cup final on October 21.

Waikato coach Warren Gatland has spoken about the need to manage Robinson's return carefully and, with Toby Lynn and Mark Burman having done well this season, has ready-made replacements.

Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu (calf) and utility back Dwayne Sweeney (quad) have haematomas and will rest until later this week. Both are expected to be fit for Southland.

* Wellington have fingers crossed blockbusting Ma'a Nonu is fit for their clash with Canterbury in the capital on Friday night. He picked up a minor groin strain at training on Monday.