Competition for Auckland backline spots

Another week in the Air New Zealand Cup, and more tough backline calls for the Auckland coaching staff for tomorrow night's big semifinal showdown against Wellington.

Ben Atiga starts at centre ahead of the much talked-about All Blacks utility Isaia Toeava.

Auckland backs coach Shane Howarth says Toeava misses out to Atiga's experience, and while Toeava has shown glimpses, he has a way to go and is still learning. He says it was a really close call, but the form Atiga is in means he is ahead.

Howarth points out that Atiga has warmed to a leadership role this year and has really stood up at key times for the team.

The difficult selection in the backs has been helped a little this week by the injury suffered by Doug Howlett.

The key question for Auckland is how to stop Ma'a Nonu who has been back to his barnstorming best attacking form in the past few weeks.

His immediate marker tomorrow night is Isa Nacewa, while Atiga and Sam Tuitupou have the job of stopping the Wellington midfield.

Howarth says the theory to stop Nonu is simple, in that they have to somehow get to him before he gets wound up and if they do that they can stop him.

Overall, there are looming problems for Auckland in retaining all of its talented backs.

Most of the team's current starters across the field are signed up for next year and beyond, and Howarth says they are resigned to losing a few other squad members.

Howarth says if they can keep the foundation of their team then that is great, but they are not going to try to hold them back in rugby terms.

- NEWSTALK ZB