Rugby: French foil Counties' NPC hopes

By Chris Rattue

Counties Manukau have all but given up hope of having midfield back Tony Marsh return for the NPC season.

His fellow centre George Leaupepe was released from his contract with English club Bristol yesterday so is set to play in the first half of the championship. Leaupepe will miss the second half of this year's NPC when he will be with Manu Samoa at the World Cup.

The Steelers had also been confident of getting Marsh back from France, but his club Montferrand have dug their toes in and want him to remain.

Marsh has returned to France but desperately wants to come home because his father has had major heart surgery, and he and the Steelers believed he could win a release on compassionate grounds.

They still believe he may be able to return to New Zealand rugby sooner than expected, but it now seems unlikely that he will play in this year's NPC.

"They haven't taken his request to return home because of his father's health particularly well," said his manager, Roger Mortimer, yesterday.

"I don't like his chances and I just can't understand why they won't let him go under the circumstances."

But Leaupepe is well on the way to signing a contract with the Chiefs. Mortimer said he had been in discussions with coach Ross Cooper, and all the signs were good.

Counties Manukau co-coach Andrew Talaimanu heaped praise on the New Zealand Rugby Football Union over the effort to bring Leaupepe and Marsh - two players at the centre of last year's so-called player drain - back to New Zealand.

"George is very happy with what is on offer, but unfortunately we seem to have hit a brick wall with Tony's club in France."

Meanwhile, dynamic flanker Glenn Marsh, Tony Marsh's twin brother, has been given an extra rugby responsibility this season as captain of Counties Manukau.

Marsh was a prominent component in the Chiefs' Super 12 squad and probably a fringe All Black candidate before representing both NZA and NZ Maori this season. Now, he has been asked to take over the provincial leadership from longtime skipper Errol Brain.

Bruising Koula Tukino takes Brain's place at the back of the scrum where the coach hopes his potential and power can be harnessed to suit Counties' gameplan. Hare Makiri, the NZ Colts star, is on the blindside where he had such an impact in the recent tournament in Argentina.

A solid front row will get support from veteran lock Jim Coe and locking partner Andrew Campbell.

Talaimanu said the Steelers were disappointed they would be without Fijian forward Api Naevo for Sunday's NPC opener against Southland at Pukekohe Stadium.

But the side will include All Black Jonah Lomu, who has been on the test bench, and they hope to have him for the following two NPC rounds.