Injuries dictate castoffs' cup runs

Two in, two out. That's the split among the four All Blacks released from the squad for the trip to Brisbane for this weekend's Bledisloe Cup test.

But there's no playing favourites, rather it's injuries which have decided who will be available for the opening round of the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup domestic competition.

North Harbour lock Greg Rawlinson is set for their trip to newly merged union Tasman on Sunday, and hooker Anton Oliver will start for Otago against Counties Manukau at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.

However Auckland will be without their captain, Sam Tuitupou. The bustling second five-eighth strained a hamstring late in the All Blacks win over South Africa in Wellington last weekend.

Wellington's test halfback Piri Weepu, who suffered several injuries against the Springboks, is out of their trip to Taranaki on Saturday.

Auckland's captain for Saturday's match against Manawatu is due to be revealed tomorrow. Halfback Steve Devine, on the mend after missing the bulk of the Super 14 through injury, captained Auckland in their game against Fiji in Lautoka, while lock Brad Mika led them in the other tour game against Samoa in Apia.

To absolutely no one's surprise, Auckland are unbackable favourites to beat Manawatu in Palmerston North.

The TAB isn't taking bets on Auckland, who won the title in the final year of the old NPC format last year, although Manawatu can be supported at $80 to draw or win.

"It really looks far too one-sided," a TAB spokesman said yesterday. This is unlikely to be the only time the TAB opts not to effectively give away money during the cup, especially once All Blacks return to the stronger teams such as Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington.

* Former All Black wing Roger Randle gets his first run since returning to Waikato in their warmup game against Bay of Plenty in Hamilton on Saturday. Both teams have the first round bye in the cup.

Waikato will field seven All Blacks - backs Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sosene Anesi and David Hill, and forwards Jono Gibbes, captain Steven Bates, Marty Holah and Tom Willis.

* Hawkes Bay are first out of the blocks in naming their side for the opening game against Canterbury at McLean Park on Friday night. Former All Blacks Nathan Mauger and Danny Lee are the name players in a team to be captained by experienced No 8 Mutu Ngarimu.