Wynne Gray: Counties command respect

Jonah Lomu was a team star for the Blues. Photo / Getty Images

Remember the 1996 birth of Super rugby when Counties Manukau filled up a fair chunk of the Blues' playing roster.

Jonah Lomu and Joeli Vidiri were two of the team stars while Michael Scott, Errol Brain, Andrew Roose and Chris Rose were usually in the backup department.

Blues assistant coach Mac McCallion was from Spud Country while the other players from the region like Pita Alatini, Danny Love, George Leaupepe and Lee Lidgard were picked up by other franchises. Times have changed though. For some years Counties have been part of the Chiefs group and this season had just two in the squad, Lelia Masaga and Tim Nanai Williams. Others have been in wider training groups but none picked up around the country in the initial Super 14 draft.

When Counties ground out a victory this week against Tasman it was their fourth win in six games in the ITM Cup, already doubling last season's victory tally. The eyes of the Chiefs' brains trust, Ian Foster and Co, will be well focused on the Counties area and so too a few other franchises if they want some strong, sharp rising talent. They may be restricted because a number of players are already locked into extended contracts through until the end of next year which will impact on squad selections.

However, about a dozen of the Counties squad will have perked the interest of the Chiefs and other rugby scouts. Some of the marvellous raw talent in players like Sherwin Stowers, Fritz Lee, Ronald Raaymakers is pushing to join the Super ranks like Nanai-Williams.

Captain Jamie Chipman is only 22, young for a lock and a skipper too but he helped turned Counties around from the Waikato whomping to deal with the Tasman.

There are many reasons for the resurgence. The union had a plan and went for it. Coach Milton Haig is forming a smart unit with his assistant and midfield rock Tana Umaga, the players are a year older, fitter and understand the game more. They can grind out results, they are learning to balance their undoubted skills with the need to roll up their sleeves and work hard like their front row of Simon Lemalu, Grant Henson and Jonno Owen.

Counties have some tough games to run but they are heading in the right direction to qualify in the top seven. Just the sort of stuff to make Kevin Skinner, Bob Lendrum, Bruce Robertson, John Spiers, Andy Dalton and Rod Ketels even a little more proud of their old union than the rest of New Zealand.