Rugby: Payne all torque as Northland hit throttle

Jared Payne says playing for the All Blacks is his goal but he's focusing on doing well for Northland. Photo / Getty Images

Dynamic centre Jared Payne was in need of a signature dance after scoring, while Northland masseuse Paul Scutt had a business motto that he wanted to spread. A marriage was born.

"The motto for his flooring business is 'Full Throttle'. I was talking to him one night about a try-scoring celebration and he told me do a motorbike to show you're going full throttle."

It's not a bad motto for Northland as a team. After spluttering their way into 13th last year, Northland looked doomed for a rugby wilderness as the New Zealand Rugby Union attempted their ill-fated four-team cull.

Now, with five weeks remaining of the round robin, Northland are twisting the throttle and have high hopes of a top-seven finish and a place in next year's seven-team Premier division.

Payne said there was no magic bullet that triggered their upswing, but rather a combination of events including good recruitment, the new law interpretations, a more expansive gameplan and a coaching duo with another year on the clock.

"We're a pretty tight-knit bunch off the field as well. We're all good mates and it's great fun playing with your friends."

Whatever it is, it's working. Only one team has improved more dramatically than Northland have this season and it is the team they are set to meet in Pukekohe tomorrow - Counties Manukau.

"They're a bloody good team," Payne said. "They've got good defensive systems and big boys who are strong ball runners and they're pretty aggressive at the breakdown. that all combines to a pretty good team."

Payne's form has been the subject of speculation about whether he could be a bolter for the All blacks ahead of next year's World Cup. With a sudden embarrassment of riches in the midfield, that might be a long shot but the 25-year-old still has aspirations of playing at the highest level.

"Every New Zealand rugby player wants to play for the All Blacks. I still want to play for the All Blacks. My goals haven't changed, but at the moment all I'm worried about is playing well for Northland and trying to secure a top-seven place.

"It is nice to hear good things, it's a lot easier to deal with than when people are saying bad things about you ... but as a whole I'm more concerned with performing for Northland and playing my part in the team structure and I think I'm doing that reasonably well."

Coach Bryce Woodward thinks so too. He said Payne had benefited from having people around him who were capable of opening up defences.

"We've scored several tries where he has come into the move late and run beautiful lines. I think he's playing equally well at centre or fullback and I'm glad we've got him at the Blues."

Woodward said a season of consistency at Super rugby level would push Payne's claims for a test jersey.

The newly appointed Blues assistant coach said Payne was cursed to have emerged at the same time that genuine depth had emerged in Nos 13 and 15.

Counties Manukau v Northland
Pukekohe, tomorrow, 4.35pm

COUNTIES MANUKAU
* David Raikuna
* Siale Piutau
* Tana Umaga
* Sherwin Stowers
* Dean Cummins
* August Pulu
* Viliami Fihaki
* Mark Selwyn/DJ Forbes
* Fritz Lee
* Jamie Chipman (c)
* Taiasina Tuifua
* Jono Owen
* Henson/ Maasi
* Simon Lemalu
Reserves: Maasi/Mark Price, Graham Dewes, Ronald Raaymakers, Selwyn/Forbes, Samisoni Fisilau, Rey Lee-Lo, Ahsee Tuala.

NORTHLAND
* Matt Wallis
* Tim Dow
* Bronson Murray
* Pat O'Connor
* Mark Burman
* Dean Budd
* Dan Pryor
* Cameron Eyre
* Rhyan Caine
* David Holwell
* Lachie Munro
* Aaron Bancroft
* Rene Ranger
* Mateo Malupo
* Jared Payne (c)
Reserves: Mikaele Tuu'u, Ross Wright, Roy Griffin, Cam Goodhue, Luke Hamilton, Adam Clarke, Simon Munro.