Rugby: Auckland rest engine room men

By Wynne Gray

Auckland remain convinced their top-rated locks Charles Reichelmann and Leo Lafaiali'i will recover for the opening NPC match against Wellington next Friday at Eden Park.

The pair went down with leg injuries during the midweek trial walloping of North Harbour and so did their backup Jason Chandler. He suffered a torn medial knee ligament and will be out of rugby for perhaps two months.

Reichelmann strained a knee ligament and Lafaiali'i a hamstring during the 48-6 win against Harbour and will be rested from tomorrow's final trial against Canterbury in Blenheim.

They are both undergoing some intensive physio and we think they might be right for the start to the NPC," coach Wayne Pivac said.

While some Aucklanders like Carlos Spencer and Andrew Blowers might be available for the NPC opener after their trip to South Africa with the All Blacks, there will be no such backup from national lock Robin Brooke.

And with another possible lock Ben Kissing also injured, Auckland have gone to Richard Rasmussen, Dean Bassett and Milton Ngauamo from their reserve pool for tomorrow's trial.

Auckland will rest two other players tomorrow, NZ Colts stars Samiu Vahafolau and Doug Howlett, who are still a little battered after their recent trip to Argentina.

However two others from that trip, Orene Ai'i and Rico Gear, will start while loosehead prop and captain Paul Thomson and three-quarter Caleb Ralph are back after their tour with the NZ Maori squad.

Even with seven players away with the All Blacks, Canterbury have picked 10 players who experienced Super 12 rugby this season and a further six with that same experience on the bench.

Auckland: Malili Muliana, Rico Gear, Eroni Calrke, Caleb Ralph, Craig Innes, Orene Ai'i, Steve Devine, Xavier Rush, Mark Carter, Richard Rasmussen or Dean Bassett, Milton Ngauamo, Michael Jones, Scott Palmer, Paul Mitchell, Paul Thomson (capt).

Canterbury: Ben Blair, Afrato So'oalo, Mark Robisnon, Donald Smith, Joe Naufahu, Mal Arnold, Aaron Flynn, Paul Surridge, Johnny Leo'o, Steve Lancaster, Todd Blackadder (capt), Scott Robertson, Con Barrell, Matt Sexton, Greg Sommerville.