KEY POINTS:
New Auckland coach Shane Howarth named a side stacked with backline strikepower but light on experience in the pack for tomorrow's Ranfurly Shield defence against Southland.
Howarth has reinstated hooker Tom McCartney and prop Paea Fa'anunu in place of departed All Blacks Keven Mealamu and John Afoa and switched Lachie Munro back to the first five-eighths role occupied by Isaia Toeava for the last two matches.
David Smith returns to the left wing, with Joe Rokocoko providing plenty of finishing experience on the opposite flank as he continues his comeback from a serious wrist injury.
After an unsuccessful audition in the role earlier in the season, it is an important match for Munro's ambition to nail down the No 10 shirt.
His brief spell at his more familiar fullback spot had helped his ability to read the game, Howarth said.
"I think having two weeks at 15 has really helped him see the game. He is communicating, talking a lot and running the ship, which is good to see.
"Long-term he is probably going to have to make a decision. He is getting more and more comfortable [at first five-eighths] but he started life as a fullback and he has played pretty well there the last couple of weeks."
Munro's task should be made easier by the presence at second five-eighths of Benson Stanley, who was sidelined with a leg fracture for Auckland's early games.
The option of Stanley as a second tactical kicker will be important for Auckland as they look to alter their game plan to better suit the ELVs. Auckland have persevered with the attack-from-deep approach that served them so well in recent seasons, kicking the ball the least of any team in the competition. But the law changes at the breakdown have made retaining possession difficult and Auckland have been badly hurt by turning over the ball in their own territory.
"You've got to be smart, we've changed the way we are going to play," Howarth said.
"The [new] rules have dulled down a lot of our attacking play from within our own half. We used to love doing that but you take it on a whim with match officials at the moment. It is probably less than 50:50 to get the ball back if you are an attacking team.
"So there probably will be a little bit more kicking but I don't want it to turn into a kick-a-thon. The boys know that. If there are opportunities to go, they'll go."
Auckland's physicality has been conspicuous by its absence in their three road losses this season but Howarth will be banking on a more robust effort with the Shield on the line against Southland.
"You can't rely on the Shield or Eden Park to get you up. We've been okay on Eden Park and pretty poor away from it. This week we need to be better than okay or we are in a lot of trouble."
Southland have lost Jimmy Cowan to All Blacks duty but coaches Simon Culhane and David Henderson have named an otherwise settled team.
