Southland v Auckland
Invercargill, 7.35 tonight
Auckland have restored All Black midfielder Benson Stanley for tonight's Ranfurly Shield challenge, while Southland have lost steady centre Kendrick Lynn for their sixth defence.
The sides are sitting in the top two slots in the ITM Cup, and the outcome of their meeting in Invercargill - which doubles as a shield duel - may hinge on such selections' fortunes.
Lynn has been an influential guide in Southland's season, but his season-ending exit for groin surgery may offer Auckland a route to exploit through returning All Black and former captain Stanley.
Southland are favoured to win on the TAB. They have shown a miserly defence this season, combined with a knack for kicking crucial goals and busting out for tries when needed.
They will have a packed Rugby Park Stadium yelling them on and much wider support, too, after the bad weather in the region.
Margins between the combatants are small. Southland have been beaten once, scored one more point in eight games and conceded 17 more than Auckland, who have had two losses.
Southland have never beaten Auckland in the national championship - their best effort being a 9-all draw in the 1976 start to the competition. But they are on a revival.
Auckland will fancy they are improving and getting tighter, though last week's first half misfire against Manawatu was a shocker. But in the second spell they reclaimed Stanley from his All Black duties and he and the team began to find some rhythm.
That stint gave Stanley a much better vibe than his previous provincial hit out against Canterbury.
His Super 14 work earned him All Black selection but after three tests in June, he has been on the national selection outer.
"Ever since then there has been a drought in terms of game play.
"Not playing a lot of football is the tough part. Your timing is out, you are not used to contact. You can do that at training but you can't simulate the game quite right," Stanley said. "I have to make sure that I bring my A-game."
Stanley resumed last week for Auckland in foul conditions at Palmerston North. His first pass went awry and he wondered if he was going to go through more form pain.
He improved though and has beaten out younger brother Winston and former All Black Ben Atiga for the start.
Stanley captained Auckland when they lost to Wellington by a point in last year's Shield challenge, a game he wanted to forget and a result he wanted to overturn tonight. He had studied Southland a great deal since the end of his Tri-Nations duties.
"They have been impressive. They work hard for each other, scramble hard and they have solid platforms to use. They get stuck in, wear their hearts on their sleeve, and we have to do the same and really hang it out there for each other," said Stanley.
He knew Southland would have sympathetic support after the weather and wrecked stadium dramas in Invercargill. But winning the Shield would be special if it happened for this Auckland side.
It was a trophy which helped galvanise smaller communities, but it would mean a huge amount to the Auckland side.
Some had not experienced a challenge so would be hugely motivated to claim the special rugby prize.
SOUTHLAND v AUCKLAND
Southland
Glen Horton
Mark Wells
Tony Koonwaiyou
Matt Saunders
James Paterson
Robbie Robinson
Scott Cowan
Kane Thompson
Tim Boys
John Hardie
Joe Tuineau
Josh Bekhuis
Chris King
Jason Rutledge
J. Mackintosh (c)
Auckland
Brent Ward
Dave Thomas
Benson Stanley
Jamie Helleur
Chay Raui
Matt Berquist
Toby Morland
Peter Saili
Daniel Braid
Onosa'i Auva'a
A. Van der Heijden
Kurtis Haiu
Charlie Faumuina
Tom McCartney
John Afoa
Southland reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Nick Barrett, Alex Ryan, Dion Bates, Sony Rangitoheriri, Seminar Manu, Pehi Te Whare.
Auckland reserves: Ash Dixon, Angus Ta'avao, Liaki Moli, Sean Polwart, Brenton Helleur, Gareth Anscombe, Winston Stanley.
