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KEY POINTS:
Auckland 39
Counties Manukau 5
In the build-up to Auckland's national championship opener against Counties Manukau, senior pro Doug Howlett gave his teammates a history lecture.
He talked about the great players and teams that had worn the blue and white jersey, about how this year's side faced the challenge of creating their own slice of history.
For 53 minutes on Saturday, it looked every bit as though this season's first chapter might end up chronicling an embarrassing loss to a team that last year won just one match in this competition.
Counties were certainly up for the match against their Blues brother and Auckland played right into their hands, shifting the ball from flank to flank without doing the tough stuff up the middle first. Their backs were easy marks for the Counties defenders, who went about their work with some gusto.
In the end, captain Sam Tuitupou took it upon himself to straighten the point of attack with some incisive runs at the heart of the Counties defence. The breaks came, the tries followed. Three of them scored by Howlett who, with 48 Auckland tries to his name, is assured a prominent place in the history books.
The veteran winger's hat-trick showcased all his skills: the first a classic winger's finish in the corner; the second a fine support run up the middle to finish Brad Mika's scything break; the third a kick chase where the bouncing ball seemed drawn to him like a magnet.
Auckland coach Pat Lam spoke glowingly after the match about how Howlett had phoned him just hours after his selection for the All Blacks World Cup squad had been confirmed, asking how he could contribute before packing his bags for France.
But Howlett didn't exactly volunteer for three weeks of Air New Zealand Cup duty.
His opinion on the matter was never sought.
"It was from above," he said, presumably meaning orders from Graham Henry rather than God.
"It's just the road I've been given to the World Cup. I've been given a road so I'm travelling it."
Having won the right to continue his stellar 59-test, 43-try international career in France by heading off Rico Gear after an 18-month four-way battle for three world cup wing spots, Howlett was philosophical about the extended selection process.
"Obviously it has been [beneficial] as I've come into a bit of form but it is tough being under the microscope week-in, week-out."
But his demeanour didn't suggest a man likely to go on record as a huge fan of the All Blacks selectors' rotation policy.
Leading up to last Sunday's team announcement, he had no idea whether he would be in the World Cup squad.
"I had two tests to prove myself. All you can do is put it out on the field, the rest is up to the coaches. I don't know what they think, so until you hear the name, you don't know."
Howlett's first-half try was cancelled out by Counties captain Kristian Ormsby, who barrelled over in the corner after a surging run by win Lelia Masaga and a neat transfer by No 8 Taiasina Tuifua.
But that was as good as it got for Counties, who went to the break level but conceded three tries in a seven-minute burst midway through the second-half to slip out of contention.
"The first 20 minutes they really fired a lot of shots at us and we felt like we weathered that early storm," Ormsby said.
His side's failure to turn periods of pressure into points had proved costly, he said. "In the second half, they stepped it up again. We had tired legs but we still felt good out there. It never felt like we were falling away."
But they were.
Halfback Taniela Moa made an immediate impression when he replaced the injured Steve Devine in the 44th minute, sparking several breaks before lock Kurtis Haiu finished off a Tuitupou dart for the try that kicked Auckland clear.
Replacement flanker Onosai Tololima-Auva'a then scored the first of two simple tries with practically his first touch.
And then there was Howlett, who continued his demonstration of living history with two more classic finishes.
"We were pleased to get the bonus point but we realise we have still got a lot to work on," Lam said. "It was a good start to the campaign."
Counties coach Kevin Putt also saw plenty of reason for optimism, but there was no hiding from the scoreline.
"We were getting a lot pats on the back saying, 'Well done' but, respectfully, that's rubbish," Putt said. "The guys put their sights a bit higher than that. When you get beaten by that score it is unacceptable. It is a poor result."
