Rugby: Just like the good old days

Canterbury's Tu Umaga-Marshall scores in the eight-try romp against Manawatu last night. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland 10
Taranaki 0

Canterbury 50
Manawatu 26

It was like the old days but without so much mud.

There was even the nearest thing to an all-in fight, although it was more like mud wrestling.

It was one of those nights when try scorers can start their slide 10 metres before the tryline - not that there was a heck of a lot of try scoring action in sight.

This was rugby that doesn't look like fun, but actually is.

It was also an old-style deal where goalkickers are meant to be heroes, and the Auckland No 10 Ash Moeke was just that.

And at the end of it, Auckland had a precious Air New Zealand Cup victory in New Plymouth which has kept them in the title hunt, and smashed Taranaki's hopes.

"These were the worst conditions I've played in and I can speak for the boys," said Auckland captain Benson Stanley. "It was a struggle to even move."

Wind, rain, the biting cold and slush held sway, although modern drainage techniques meant the grass remained mainly green.

This was a world of flykicks and frozen fingers trying to control the ball on the carpet.

In days gone, forward packs would have commandeered the ball.

In days past, players knew how to deal with muck like this - they were bred to do so and relished the task.

The modern game requires a bit more of a nod to entertainment, although old fashioned values and inevitable errors took over last night as the field began to churn up and the wind and rain drove in behind Auckland's back.

Even the sensible plays were risky enough. Shayne Austen, the Taranaki wing with a booming punt, had one of his clearances zoom back over his head into the in-goal area.

Willie Ripia, the Taranaki first five-eighths, didn't learn the lesson though. He tried a fancy pants cross field kick on his own quarter line, and saw it curl back towards his tryline. It wasn't his only shocking kick of the night.

Considering the elements, it wasn't a bad game, although it certainly wasn't a great one.

The teams defied the conditions during the second quarter with a patch of messy razzle dazzle when enterprise was high, returns not so,

The only score of the half had come midway through the spell when Auckland flanker Onosai Auva'a tore away from a maul on a 10 metre charge to the line, with Moeke providing a superb conversion from wide out, and into the wind.

Moeke landed a 75th minute penalty that all but secured the victory. Auckland finished the game camped on the Taranaki line, and finished up like many campers - wet, cold and happy.

Auckland 10 (Onosai Auva'a try; Ash Moeke pen, con)

Taranaki 0. Halftime: 7-0.

Competition leaders Canterbury stepped up their game a notch as they welcomed some of their All Blacks back in an eight try romp over Manawatu last night.

The southereners showed they are coming into top form for the playoffs as they gave the visitors no chance with a clinical display in a match where 76 points were scored.

Canterbury had a bonus point at halftime in a contest that included 12 tries.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Daniel Carter all had game time but the match was so loose it looked at times like a one-sided festival affair.

Kieran Read scored two early first half tries and was replaced by McCaw after about 29 minutes, his work done for the night.

Carter came on for a cameo with 12 minutes to go and scored as Manawatu's woeful defence was shown up yet again.

Canterbury 50 (Kieran Read 2, Sam Whitelock, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Corey Flynn, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Dan Carter tries; Stephen Brett 5 con)

Manawatu 26 (James Goode 2, Aaron James, Tevita Taufui tries; Isaac Thompson 3 con). Halftime: 33-12.