Relegation battle test of who has the steel

By CHRIS RATTUE

Counties Manukau may be just 80 minutes away from the unthinkable - a return to the second division.

But coach Andrew Talaimanu and his squad are putting those thoughts out of their mind. All that counts is a win over fellow relegation candidates Bay of Plenty in Tauranga on Saturday.

The Battle of the Bottom is a cut-throat one for the home team. A loss would mean Gordon Tietjens' side will finish 11th and last in their first year back in the first division - consigning them to second-division football again.

A win would see them overtake the Steelers. The Bay would then have to survive the final round, when they play Northland in Rotorua, while Counties Manukau have a tough assignment against Auckland at Eden Park.

Whoever finishes 10th will have home advantage against the second-division winners in a promotion-relegation game - a match the first-division side would be favoured to win.

Counties Manukau will have a full-strength squad ready for Saturday's match at the Tauranga Domain after a bye week in which they stuck to their regular training regime, and simulated match conditions with an inter-squad game at Pukekohe Stadium on Saturday.

The union last played in the second division in the 1992 and 1993 seasons, and emerged from that to become a first-division force in the 1990s.

But the rugby world is different these days, now that the professional era has arrived, bankrolled by the News Ltd millions.

Smaller first-division provinces have enough trouble hanging on to their best and most promising players, and it is even tougher for teams in the second division. Already, it has been rumoured that Steelers first five-eighth Blair Feeney is headed to Otago, although there is no confirmation of that yet.

But Talaimanu, who is sometimes outspoken about the lack of a level playing field, said this was not the time to talk about the game's politics.

"We've got to do our talking on the field this week," he said.

"When we were relegated previously it was more of a hiccup, but circumstances in the game are very different now."

However, it was not the time for excuses, he said.

"It is a very big week for us and obviously it means a lot to everyone in the union, the supporters and, of course, the players themselves.

"There have been many could-haves and should-haves for us during the year, but now it is down to 80 minutes."

It had been a stressful season and a difficult week.

"But we have to go out and play with confidence. When we play with anxiety we freeze up."

The two teams have similar scoring records this season, Bay of Plenty losing by a 12-40 average and Counties Manukau going down by about 15-34.

Bay of Plenty's only win was in the first round, an extraordinary result over champions Wellington in the capital.

Counties Manukau's only victory was at home against Otago, and they gained an edge over the Bay through a draw with Southland.

At least the Steelers are assured of another throw of the dice in the final round.

While the players will do their talking on the field this week, plenty of off-field work may lie ahead.

Counties Manukau could ill-afford to lose a player such as Feeney. And New Zealand Rugby Football Union sources say that Chiefs backs Loki Crichton and Danny Lee, the Steelers captain, are among players around the country yet to re-sign with the national union.

Eighty minutes in Tauranga may well decide if the Steelers can hang on to those players and the likes of Koula Tukino and Casey Laulala over the next few seasons.