Rugby: Anscombe happy to bring in some All Blacks class

Mark Anscombe. Photo / APN

Squeezing several All Blacks into his side for one game was not the smoothest transition but Auckland coach Mark Anscombe said it would benefit the players.

Former captain Benson Stanley and prop John Afoa will mark up against Canterbury tomorrow before they and host hooker Corey Flynn are siphoned off again to prepare for the All Blacks' Tri-Nations test against the Wallabies in Sydney.

The drive-by selections were not an easy fit, Anscombe said, but his All Blacks were a great boost to the squad in the way they trained, talked and asked questions of their teammates.

"The fact is they have had only 40 minutes of rugby in the last eight weeks and the type of guys they are, we need to support them," he added.

"If we didn't, it would be another three weeks before they will get a game and that is not doing anyone any advantage."

Anscombe has brought Toby Morland back at halfback and given Charles Piutau a start on the wing, while Canterbury coach Rob Penney has made six alterations from the side beaten last round by Tasman.

Halfback Andy Ellis, wing Tu Umaga-Marshall, midfielder Ryan Crotty, No 8 Nasi Manu, prop Peter Borlase and Flynn have come in for what looms as the match of the round. The province's much-touted ski-bunny signing Sonny Bill Williams will start in the curtain-raiser.

"It's great to have guys back from injury and in the mix for us," Penney said. "They are all class players who will add a lot."

Anscombe said if his side wanted to take a strong cut at the ITM Cup they had to be confident about winning tomorrow. They had conceded only four tries in four games and needed to keep those standards against a talented Canterbury backline.

"We've got to create opportunities, and our backs can do that if we give them the right go-forward ball. The strength of our game, which we got away from last Sunday, is our ability to put phases together," he said.

Meanwhile, Waikato coach Chris Gibbes announced his side to play Counties Manukau, with the most interesting move being the promotion of halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow ahead of former All Black Brendon Leonard.

"The simple mistakes made this season around our handling and offloading have been looked at this week," Gibbes said, "with the squad concentrating on improving our communication and handling while under pressure."