Rugby: Northland get rough and ready

By Wynne Gray

Northland will bring their "no sense in us dying wondering" approach to round two of the NPC when they front Auckland who have started out in ominous form.

While Auckland will go through their days of systematic training and analysis for Saturday's confrontation at Eden Park, Northland were going through the routines allowed by their lives as semi-professional rugby players.

Training after work last night and tomorrow, then a bus trip south on Friday was the preparation for this first division side with few fulltime footballers. One of them, centre Norm Berryman, was the only injury worry for the game after his thigh was gashed and stitched in the opening defeat to Otago.

Otherwise, Northland would be set to give franchise partners Auckland a rattle, according to new coach Bryce Woodward. With Auckland in sharp touch this was the chance to see if Northland had a well-balanced squad.

"We do not look at any names, we just go out there and give it our all," said Woodward. "Our attitude is to leave nothing in the tank."

Just in case Northland wanted to see who they were up against, Auckland announced their side yesterday. Flankers Michael Jones and Mark Carter were omitted because of slight leg injuries, Adrian Cashmore and Dylan Mika were back from their leg problems while Steve Devine replaced Ofisa Tonu'u at halfback.

Mika has re-signed for several seasons with Auckland to take his current contract past its original October expiry date. Both he, Blowers and Craig Dowd have been released from All Black duties to play this weekend.

Woodward was keen to engender some of the 1970's snorting fury that Northland rugby was famous for.

"We want to instil some of that and mix it up with the subtlety which is also needed in the modern game," he said. "We did some of that last week against Otago and want to build on that."

Northland will pick their side tomorow, a selection which should include wings Dan Parkinson and Patrick Petelo, who are both on loan from Auckland this season.

Auckland: Adrian Cashmore, Doug Howlett, Eroni Clarke, Caleb Ralph, Carlos Spencer, Steve Devine, Xavier Rush, Finau Maka, Charles Reichelmann, Leo Lafaiali'i, Dylan Mika, Craig Dowd, Paul Mitchell, Paul Thomson (capt).

Reserves: Ofisa Tonu'u, Orene Ai'i, Iliesa Tanivula, Keven Mealamu, Scott Palmer, Scott Palmer, Andrew Blowers, Dean Bassett.