KEY POINTS:
The national championship table makes ugly reading for the Auckland region, with North Harbour, Auckland and Counties Manukau rooted to the bottom.
Collectively the region's unions have won just two of nine matches - and one of those was the Steelers' shock first-round victory over Auckland.
The 34-3, six-tries-to-none, hammering Auckland received from Canterbury on Saturday night saw them drop to second-last, ahead only of a Counties team that shipped nine tries as they were ritually disembowelled by competition leaders Wellington in the capital on Friday night.
The results raise questions about the reservoir of talent in the region - and in the Blues' catchment area in particular - after the mass player exodus.
Relegation-threatened Northland are the best-placed of the three Blues unions, in ninth after gaining a close-loss bonus point from their 23-18 defeat by Otago in Dunedin on Friday night.
Tasman, the other team facing the axe from next year's competition, moved into fifth with yesterday's 33-23 victory over Taranaki in Nelson.
Harbour and Waikato, who square off on the North Shore on Sunday, are the only teams yet to post wins. But Harbour's four bonus points and Waikato's three-point haul from their 38-38 draw with Manawatu mean both head Counties and Auckland on differential.
Having been outgunned in all departments by a Canterbury side that still boasts a significant veteran presence in their pack, Auckland must now regroup for their Ranfurly Shield defence against Manawatu on Saturday night. Canterbury led 10-0 at halftime through tries to fullback Paul Williams and left wing James Paterson.
Colin Slade, Canterbury's fourth choice first five-eighths, created their third try 15 minutes into the second half with a deft chip that sat up nicely for winger Scott Hamilton.
Prop Wyatt Crockett then rumbled over from close range to claim the bonus point before replacements Ryan Crotty and Steve Fualau added late tries to close out the victory.
Harbour were left ruing a contentious refereeing call as they went down 38-31 to Bay of Plenty in Mt Maunganui. Former Harbour back Zar Lawrence was awarded a crucial second-half try despite knocking on short of the line.
Rules regarding the use of the TMO meant the knock-on could not be ruled on as it did not take place during the grounding. Harbour settled for a second bonus point, thanks to a last-minute Jimmy Gopperth penalty after No 8 Colin Bourke sealed the Steamers' victory with his second try.
In the biggest upset, Southland came from behind to snatch a 20-16 win over Hawkes Bay in Napier.
Having shipped 109 points in their last two matches, Counties appear to be in disarray just two weeks after stunning Auckland in Pukekohe. On Thursday night they host Otago at Mt Smart. Northland face Bay of Plenty, in Whangarei on Friday night.
Wellington travel to Invercargill to take on Southland, Tasman host Hawkes Bay and Taranaki take on Canterbury in New Plymouth.
