Rugby: Auckland benefit as cup rivals slip up

Auckland coach Mark Anscombe. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Keeping an eye on their rivals' results has proven beneficial for Auckland in the last few days.

Having got their ITM Cup campaign off to a slippery start, they have had bonus point wins in their last two games against Southland and North Harbour.

Do the same against Counties Manukau at Eden Park tonight and Auckland will, from an unpromising beginning, sit second, a point behind leaders Bay of Plenty.

Three results helped Auckland's cause - the Bay losing to championship side Northland; championship leaders Manawatu toppling Taranaki; and Waikato outplaying Canterbury yesterday.

The downside is Auckland will have played an extra game over all their rivals, but this competition has been loaded with surprise results, at least partly because of tiredness in a compressed format. So a decent policy to follow is to bank the points and see how the dice fall.

In the absence through injury of captain Daniel Braid and senior figures like Benson Stanley and Peter Saili, coach Mark Anscombe has been delighted with the leadership qualities of several other players.

He singled out prop Charlie Faumuina, and No 8 Chris Lowrey in particular for their work in that area.

"I think Chris has been outstanding," Anscombe said. "He's comfortable in his game, knows his strengths, is making more tackles, carrying strongly and been outstanding in the lineout. He's stepped up in a big way for us."

Anscombe has made four changes for tonight.

Brent Ward reverts to fullback in the absence of Isaia Toeava with Joe Rokocoko returning to the right wing; Alby Mathewson is back at halfback for Toby Morland; Tevita Mailau swaps with Pauliasi Manu at loosehead prop; and Josh Townsend is over a bout of concussion and returns to lock the scrum with the highly impressive youngster Steven Luatua.

Faumuina is bracketed at tighthead with uncapped Nathan Vella as he battles a foot injury.

Tonight will be Counties Manukau's fourth championship game in 14 days. They've lost their last three games and will be up against it tonight.

Hooker Grant Henson plays his 100th game for the union, while for flanker Taiasina Tuifua it will be his 52nd and last, before departing to join the Samoan World Cup squad, along with teammate, veteran Tasesa Lavea.

AUCKLAND v COUNTIES MANUKAU

Eden Park, 7.35 tonight

Auckland
Brent Ward
Joe Rokocoko
Hadleigh Parkes
Teddy Stanaway
George Moala
Gareth Anscombe
Alby Mathewson
Chris Lowrey
Sean Polwart
Nathan Hughes
Steven Luatua
Josh Townsend
Faumuina/Vella
Tom McCartney (c)
Tevita Mailau
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Pauliasi Manu, Ben Masoe, Sam Henwood, Toby Morland, Piers Francis, Winston Stanley, Angus Ta'avao.

Counties Manukau
T N Williams
Ahsee Tuala
Reynold Lee-Lo
Tasesa Lavea
Sherwin Stowers
Baden Kerr
David Bason
Fritz Lee
DJ Forbes
Tuifua/Raaymakers
Raaymakers/Chipman(c)
Chris McLaren
Matt Talaese
Grant Henson
Simon Lemalu
Reserves: Mark Price, Jeremiah Fatialofa, Adam Cathcart, Mark Selwyn, Augustine Pulu, James Semple, Tyrone Lefau, Peter Hale.