Bowden gets chance to step up for Northland

When Daniel Bowden decided to cut his ties with Auckland and head north for a taste of provincial rugby, he always knew he faced a battle to nail down a start in his preferred position.

Primarily because his favoured spot is first five-eighth, and he knew David Holwell had a mortgage on that jersey for Northland.

Even in a team struggling to stay afloat in the NPC first division, he was going to find it hard to push Holwell out of the starting side.

It turns out he didn't have to push at all, because Holwell fell over.

Holwell, the team captain, is out against Auckland at Eden Park today with a shoulder injury.

Bowden, a 20-year-old sport and recreation student in Auckland, slips straight into the pivotal position knowing full well he has just been presented with one of the biggest challenges of his career.

"Yeah it is a bit of pressure, but I am looking forward to it, especially against the players that I know and against the union that wasn't too happy about me leaving as well."

Bowden was tagged as one of the up-and-coming players in Auckland rugby circles, and his decision to head north this year was seen as something of a coup for Northland.

Bowden didn't quite buy into that theory, though - all he wanted was the chance to play first-class rugby.

"I was in a bit of a queue down there [in Auckland]. At the time there was Carlos Spencer and Tasesa Lavea and a couple of others as well, so it would have been a couple of years at least before I even got a shot," he said. "So really I am just grateful for the opportunity here."

But while Bowden has been lured out of the big city, it still seems like there is a big slice of it in Bowden.

He still calls the Auckland suburb of Blockhouse Bay home and attends the same central city gymnasium as many of his rivals in the Auckland team. Not that he is expecting many beg-your-pardons at Eden Park this afternoon.

In Holwell's absence lock Brad Taylor has been handed the captaincy and Bowden the responsibility to run the backline, and in particular, rev up the defence.

The trouble is, this Auckland team are on the rebound after being upset by Taranaki last week, and have been injected with new recruits Jay Williams at lock and Isaia Toeava at fullback.

Brad Mika moves to the back of the scrum and Angus Macdonald switches to the blindside.

Halfback Steve Devine is stand-in skipper with Justin Collins sidelined with concussion.

* Eden Park, today 2.35pm

Auckland

Isaia Toeava
Doug Howlett
Isa Nacewa
Sam Tuitupou
Tony Koonwaiyou
Tasesa Lavea
Steve Devine (c)
Brad Mika
Daniel Braid
Angus Macdonald
Jay Williams
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Derren Witcombe
S. Taumoepeau

Northland

Burk'dt-Macrae
Mike Rowe
Quin Butler
Josh Levi
Matt Faleuka
Daniel Bowden
John Senio
Luke Ottley
Allen Tubbs
Jake Paringatai
Brad Taylor (c)
Isoa Domolailai
Stan Wright
Tim Dow
Bronson Murray

Reserves:

Auckland: J. Fonokalafi, N. White, D. Crichton, L. Mealamu, T. Moa, G. Williams, J. Rokocoko.

Northland: J. Pinder, I. Neivua, B. Tahere, M. Davu, S. Lemalu, C. Tamou, C. Murray.

- NZPA