Rugby: Auckland take a look at schoolboy's skills

By Wynne Gray

National discard Xavier Rush will captain an Auckland squad including 11 Super 12 players and a schoolboy lock for their trial game with Northland.

Caretaker coach Wayne Pivac described the June 15 match as a pointer to Auckland's future and a chance to see whether some younger players were capable of moving from club to provincial rugby.

One of those being inspected will be St Peters College student Bradley Mika, a teenage lock who was part of the victorious NZ under-19 side at the junior World Cup.

A number of Auckland regulars are unavailable. Some are in the All Black and NZA squads while Mark Carter (groin), Michael Jones (calf) and Ofisa Tonu'u (knee) are injured, Craig Dowd and Charles Riechel-mann are recuperating from surgery, and Eroni Clarke is on target for an NPC comeback.

Pivac will coach the side with help from former All Black centre and ARU coaching director Bruce Robertson.

Once this game is completed it is likely the ARU will decide on who will replace Jed Rowlands after he was sacked as NPC coach last week.

Pivac was appointed assistant coach late last year and the ARU has chosen to wait until the middle of this month before deciding on the replacement for Rowlands.

Auckland Invitation XV: Alani Maka, Grant Hill, Jason Barrell, Josh Heke, Paul Mitchell, Kevin Mealamu, Leo Lafaiali'i, Milton Ngauamo, Bradley Mika, Pat Coughlan, Finau Maka, Xavier Rush (capt), Samui Vahafolau, Steve Bates, Kevin Senio, Steve Devine, Aiden Vince, Orene Ai'i, Ileisa Tanivula, Rico Gear, Dan Parkinson, Patrick Petelo, Malili Muliana, Doug Howlett, Toa Samania.