Watch out in Thursday's New Zealand Herald for your special All Blacks poster
KEY POINTS:
Auckland's rugby backline are looking for a lift in performance when they take on surprise packets Hawkes Bay in Napier tomorrow night.
Auckland maintained their unbeaten record last weekend, but their 22-13 win over Taranaki was a patchy one.
Coach Pat Lam has responded by keeping his starting 15 largely intact.
He has made two changes, one of them injury related.
Loose forward Troy Flavell is rested to avoid the prospect of aggravating a minor hamstring strain, while prop Chris Heard comes off the bench to swap places with Saimone Taumoepeau.
However, Lam has kept faith with his back division.
Winger Benson Stanley said yesterday it was no secret that the backs were below par against Taranaki, something assistant coach Shane Howarth had touched on.
"Howie's certainly put in on us to put a performance on," he said.
"Our skills were poor and we paid the price. We're looking for a big effort. The potential is there. It's just a matter of putting it all together."
Stanley said he and his team-mates were under no illusions about what awaited them at McLean Park.
Despite lacking big name players, the Magpies are flying high in third spot on the ladder, with Wellington and North Harbour among their scalps so far.
"They look like a team that work really hard for each other," Stanley said.
"They've got a lot of self-belief at the moment and so they should. They've put some great games together."
Stanley, usually a midfielder, said he had no complaints about operating on the wing, because it meant he got game time.
"I'm there to do a job for the team."
Napier, 7.05pm tomorrow
HAWKES BAY
15. Ben Batger
14. Justin Wilson
13. Jason Shoemark
12. Sam Giddens
11. Zac Guildford
10. Matt Berquist
9. Danny Lee (c)
8. Grant Webb
7. Karl Lowe
6. Michael Johnson
5. Will Crutchley
4. Matt Egan
3. Tom Symes
2. Hikawera Elliot
1. F. Taumalolo
Reserves: Jamie Muir, Arden David, Lua Lokotui, Gaorge Naoupu, Chris Eaton, Aayden Clarke, Israel Dagg.
AUCKLAND
15. Brent Ward
14. Benson Stanley
13. Ben Atiga
12. Sam Tuitupou (c)
11. David Smith
10. Isa Nacewa
9. Taniela Moa
8. Brad Mika
7. Daniel Braid
6. Jerome Kaino
5. Jay Williams
4. Kurtis Haiu
3. John Afoa
2. Tom McCartney
1. Chris Heard
Reserves: Saimone Taumoepeau, Nick White, Stan Haukinima, Charlie Faumuina, Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a, Grayson Hart, Lachie Munro.
- NZPA
