No upsets but plenty for new boys to shout about

Stand up all those predicting a stream of lopsided scorelines in the opening round of the enlarged domestic championship and give yourselves a clip around the ear.

Sure, Hawkes Bay were blown away by Canterbury in Napier, which was expected but not an ideal way to start the Air New Zealand Cup. Then again, Canterbury, even without their heaviest hitters, can do that to you.

But Counties Manukau, Manawatu and Tasman, who were handed the booby prizes of the other three semifinalists from last year, will get up today and feel pretty good about themselves.

It might have been the extra adrenalin rush of actors on opening night, but now they've all got a template to work with, and standards to better.

A new competition brings new faces and even though there is not a winner among them, all threw up names worth keeping an eye on.

At Manawatu, lock Hayden Triggs, a standout in the Lions demolition last year, which took some doing, was outstanding against Auckland. So, too, was South African No 8 Bertus Mulder, a formidable runner, and halfback Joggie Viljoen, while centre Johnny Leota showed explosive defence is not limited to the big professional outfits.

Counties Manukau's most influential figures against Otago as they gave the southerners a real fright were old hands like captain Ben Meyer, lock Kristian Ormsby and first five-eighths Blair Feeney.

But flanker Taiasina Tuifua took some stopping and young second five-eighths Male Sa'u could develop an exciting combination with hard-running centre Niva Ta'auso.

Tasman? Look no further than big flanker Mark Bright and No 8 Cory Holdaway, plus locks Chris Bentley and George Naoupu. English sevens hero Ben Gollings kicked at 100 per cent and looks good value.

Hawkes Bay's experienced flanker Michael Johnson will be key to their hopes this season but they, like their fellow newcomers, collectively had their moments.

The opening weekend offered glimpses that, given time and encouragement, there is more scope for real turn ups than might have been anticipated three days ago.