Koonwaiyou double gives Auckland victory

SYDNEY - Wing Tony Koonwaiyou shook off the frustration of an anonymous Super 12 rugby campaign as his two-try burst carried Auckland to a 24-12 victory over Queensland in Brisbane last night.

Koonwaiyou, who was drafted to the Crusaders for a second year, only made the bench against the Chiefs in round two before being confined to a training role with the champions.

He clearly relished the chance to run on against the Reds at Ballymore and helped transform a 5-12 deficit after 55 minutes into a comfortable win for the visitors.

"He busted the line a few times. I'm pleased for him," Auckland coach Pat Lam said.

"He hasn't had much game time with the Crusaders but he's come back and he's worked very hard."

Koonwaiyou produced the game-breaking play when he ran over the top of Sydney club flanker Shawn MacKay and raced 50-metres to score next to the posts as Auckland mounted a final quarter surge.

On the opposite flank All Blacks discard Doug Howlett also tempered his disappointment of missing the initial Tri-Nations squad with an impressive all round game.

Howlett, one for five All Blacks in the line-up, finished off a sweeping movement in the 25th minute to tie the game at 5-5 and cancel out Queensland wing Peter Hynes' opener.

The prolific try scorer also had a hand in two others as Auckland grabbed the ascendancy, but Lam said Howlett's mana in a predominately inexperienced team was just as important on the short tour.

"We've got a lot of new players, and players making their debuts. Dougie's been outstanding off the field taking a leadership role."

New Zealand Colts first five-eighth Isaia Toe'va and halfback Taniela Moa both made assured starts to their provincial careers against a smattering of experienced opponents.

"They're both 19 and they showed a lot of maturity. With Carlos (Spencer) leaving and (halfback) David Gibson out for the year we went to the young fellas and they paid us back."

Lam was generally pleased with the hit out, particularly with the team's ability to pile on 19 unanswered points.

However, his joy was tempered by potentially serious injuries to prop Chris Heard and debutante hooker Lance Poching.

Heard damaged knee ligaments while Poching has a shoulder problem. Neither are expected to play against the New South Wales Waratahs at Gosford, on the NSW central coast on Wednesday.

Unluckily for the duo they will have limited involvement in team building exercises tomorrow with go karting planned before the players take in the more leisurely pursuit of mud crab racing in Toowoomba.

Auckland will also watch the Brisbane Broncos train before they head to Sydney for Saturday night's National Rugby League (NRL) blockbuster with the Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium.

- NZPA