Ward relishes kicking boost

Kicker Brent Ward's 83 per cent success rate makes him an obvious starter for Auckland. Picture / Kenny Rodger

It's an old maxim that the first name pencilled into any rugby side should be the goalkicker.

Get that right and you're in business. Grizzled forwards might argue the case for the tighthead prop, but rugby history is littered with examples - Jonny Wilkinson, Grant Fox, Barry John, Naas Botha et al - to prove the kickers' point.

In Auckland's case, step forward Brent Ward, who has begun the NPC on a flyer, kicking 10 of 12 attempts in the first two rounds, second only in numbers to the metronomic Ben Blair at Canterbury.

As he looked ahead to Southland's visit to Eden Park tomorrow, when Auckland will try to make it three wins from three, Ward talked of a determination to improve his success rate this year.

Last season, he reckons he was shooting about 65 per cent.

"It wasn't flash. That's a big area of my game I want to work on. [Assistant coach] Shane Howarth is keeping the stats and he's in my ear pretty much straight after the game.

"At the start of the season I set my target at 80 per cent."

At the moment, he's on 83 per cent. Ward acknowledged improving his percentages helps his general rugby confidence.

But the big change for the 26-year-old this season is a positional move.

In the past two years, he's been on the wing for all but two games and didn't enjoy it. "At the end of last year I saw my future at fullback and I'd want to be considered for that first. They've been very good and given me an opportunity. I felt I was just filling the numbers on the wing and found it frustrating.

"Fullback is where I think I can contribute the most for Auckland."

So far so good, and with the All Blacks coming and going like Brown's cows for much of the NPC, it will be the consistent form of the regulars which will be crucial if Auckland are to make amends for a dusty 2004, when they finished seventh, and make the semifinals.

Ward, who has been a Hurricane for the past three Super 12 competitions, puts Auckland's strong start down to improved fitness and strong off-field bonding.

"We worked really hard [pre-season] to make sure we can play 80 minutes. In the past our levels might have dropped off after the Super 12, and we might not have had the ability to play 80 minutes and put teams away."

Ward said coach Pat Lam had stressed the need to tighten up as a group off the field. That had helped to enhance the unity within the group.

Lam has made several changes for the Southland match. Wing James Somerset, hooker Semisi Telefoni and prop Daniel Muller, make their debuts in the NPC starting XV.

Tony Koonwaiyou and Somerset replace All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett out wide, and versatile Isa Nacewa replaces Sam Tuitupou at second five-eighth.

Up front, John Afoa will fly north from Dunedin early tomorrow after the Tri Nations test and will be on the bench. Muller is at tighthead and Nick White plays his 50th NPC game at loosehead prop.

Southland have not won at Eden Park since returning to the first division in 1997.

* NPC, Auckland vs Southland, Eden Park, 2.35pm tomorrow


AUCKLAND
Brent Ward
James Somerset
Ben Atiga
Isa Nacewa
Tony Koonwaiyou
Tasesa Lavea
Taniela Moa
Jerome Kaino
Angus Macdonald
Justin Collins (c)
Kurtis Haiu
Brad Mika
Daniel Muller
Semisi Telefoni
Nick White

SOUTHLAND
James Wilson
Ben Smith
Pehi Te Whare
Faolua Muliaina
Watisoni Lotawa
Richard Apanui
Jimmy Cowan
Paul Miller
Tim Boys
Hale T-Pole
Hoani Macdonald
Daniel Quate
Jayden Murch
David Hall
Clarke Dermody

RESERVES Auckland: John Fonokalafi, John Afoa, Bryce Williams, Daniel Crichton, Ofisa Tonu'u, Isaia Toeava, Sam Tuitupou.
Southland: Jason Rutledge, Craig Dunlea, Rees Logan, Jeff Wright, Sam Muir, Matt Petre, Jason Kawau.

* Children 15 years and under will be allowed free admission to the uncovered stands tomorrow.