Former All Blacks midfielder Francis Saili is out of the Auckland 22 ahead of the annual ITM Cup crossover grudge match with his old North Harbour union tomorrow at Eden Park.
Saili's mistakes, both with and without the ball, have been costly in the wins over Wellington and Bay of Plenty, but coach Paul Feeney preferred to accentuate the positive with what his replacement TJ Faiane brings to the group.
"If TJ came to me and said 'What more do I need to do to start', I'd be struggling to answer. It doesn't matter what his age is, it's about competition for places and form," said Feeney, who has partnered the 19-year-old with the seasoned Hadleigh Parkes, now back from injury.
Faiane was one of several who galvanised Auckland's second spell which carried them to victory over the Steamers. Halfback Leon Fukofuka started last week, and provided spark off the bench against Wellington. He is back on the pine tomorrow.
Fukofuka himself is itching to get as much game time as possible after a nasty chest infection hospitalised him early in 2014 and then he found himself the No 3 halfback for New Zealand in the Junior World Championship.
