Northland v Auckland
Kerikeri, 2.35pm today
Eight years ago Northland came to Eden Park. The trip home would have been a doozy, as the players celebrated a 44-43 win.
The matchwinner - apart from the team bagging six tries - was James Arlidge, a former Auckland player who was unwanted and shifted north.
Last year, same ground and the final round of the Air New Zealand Cup, and Auckland needed only a win to make the quarter-finals. Ash Moeke, on loan from Auckland, kicked the final penalty in a 21-13 win which shut the door on Auckland's ambitions.
What price something similar happening at Kerikeri Domain today where Moeke, getting his chance at first five-eighth for Auckland, comes up against Lachie Munro, unwanted at Auckland after being there the last three years.
Northland's coach on that trip south last year was Mark Anscombe - and that would be the same Mark Anscombe who today will be guiding Auckland against his old team as they search for their first win in the championship. That's not a topic Anscombe particularly wanted to dwell on.
Propping up the other 13 teams is not where he would have hoped to be going into round three, but shorn of his best players and with a difficult opening two weeks, it wouldn't have been altogether surprising.
However, there will be plenty of grumbling if they don't beat Northland today, armed with three returning All Blacks. Isaia Toeava's return from a foot injury is timely, given fullback Paul Williams' one-week suspension for his high shot on Daniel Carter at Eden Park last weekend.
Joe Rokocoko's form for the All Blacks has been lacklustre and he desperately needs to buck up his game.
Loose forward Jerome Kaino was originally to sit out the Northland match, courtesy of All Black management orders. However, the big man wanted to play and got his wish, and will add quality as well as bulk to the Auckland pack.
Northland have taken the game to the Far North, put a pile of effort into making it a day to remember - the first time Northland have played a home championship game outside Whangarei - and they're playing pretty decent football too.
"There is a bit of a buzz about it and hopefully that works in our favour," Northland coach Bryce Woodward said of the trip north. "The old days of home and away is not quite as strong as it used to be, but you'd certainly much prefer being at home than away."
Woodward has named a side unchanged from that which beat Taranaki 29-16 last week. Auckland, despite their record, will offer Northland's sternest test so far.
The big game of the round takes place in Rotorua tonight, with two of the three unbeaten teams, Bay of Plenty and Wellington, clashing.
The talk leading up to the match has been about the coaches. BoP have appointed Sean Horan and Steve Miln to replace Greg Smith; Jamie Joseph has despatched three of his All Blacks to Coventry, er, Levin, to play for Wellington B - and No 8 Rodney So'oialo would have got the same treatment but for a shortage of fit loose forwards.
It is risky on one level. If Wellington get beaten there will be mutterings in the province's corridors; win and it will be backslaps all around for doing right by his employers.
Taranaki host Hawkes Bay in New Plymouth in their first home game of the campaign, and winning on your own turf is an imperative if advancing beyond the round robin is the ambition.
Hawkes Bay need to regroup smartly after being beaten in their back yard by Wellington last weekend.
Tasman play Counties-Manukau in Nelson tomorrow, the first time the teams have met. Tasman start a third first five-eighth and blindside flanker in as many games; Counties bring in Fritz Lee at No 8, Graham Dewes at loosehead prop and Ilaisa Maasi to hook.
If Counties can't get their lively backs involved, they're going to have problems, and Tasman looked handy in toppling North Harbour last week.
NORTHLAND v AUCKLAND
Northland
Jared Payne (c)
Troy Woodman
Damien Fakafanua
Derek Carpenter
Rene Ranger
Lachie Munro
Luke Hamilton
Cameron Eyre
Matt Clutterbuck
Joel McKenty
Cameron Jowitt
Daniel Goodwin
Karl Haitana
Tim Dow
Bronson Murray
Reserves: Mikaele Tuu'u, Matt Wallis, Daniel Faleafa, Eroni Gadolo, Rhyan Caine, Jon Elrick, Brook Gilmore
Auckland
Isaia Toeava
Joe Rokocoko
Winston Stanley
B. Stanley (c)
Dave Thomas
Ash Moeke
Grayson Hart
Peter Saili
Onosa'i Auva'a
Jerome Kaino
Jay Williams
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Tom McCartney
Pauliasi Manu
Reserves: Francis Smith, Paea Fa'anunu, Andrew Van der Heijden, Dean Budd, Auvasa Faleali'i, Jamie Helleur, Atieli Pakalani
