Rugby: Rowlands kept in limbo over NPC job

By Wynne Gray

Jed Rowlands began putting in place his coaching plans for Auckland's NPC campaign yesterday, but it may be another month before he knows whether he has kept the job.

That uncertainty compounds a difficult few weeks for Rowlands after revelations of player rebellion during his debut Super 12 coaching season, ructions which came to a head on the recent trip to South Africa.

Rowlands and the Blues were prime items on the agenda when the Auckland Rugby Union board met on Tuesday, although chairman Reuben O'Neill would not reveal any details of the discussion.

He did confirm, however, that the review of the Blues' season would be completed by the end of the month and the Auckland NPC coach announced in mid-June.

Rowlands had been given the NPC job before the Super 12 season started, but as O'Neill repeated yesterday, that was "subject to review."

Despite a vacuum of board approval, Rowlands, with approved assistant coach Wayne Pivac, discussed plans yesterday morning for their trial NPC game against Northland on June 15.

In the afternoon it was Blues training, with a few problems there as well.

Paul Thomson, Craig Innes, Mark Carter, Tony Coughlan and Charles Riechelmann were not available because of injury, prop Joe Veitayaki was away with Fiji for the Pacific Cup tournament, while Michael Jones, Joeli Vidiri and Xavier Rush were struggling with some niggles too.

A replacement prop has to be found somewhere to sit on the reserves' bench for tomorrow's meeting with the ACT Brumbies at Eden Park.

Manager Derek Sampson was left making phone calls in search of a standby.

The initial choice appeared to be North Harbour's Fosi Pala'mo, who was preparing for Samoa's Pacific Rim match against Japan next weekend.

Another possibility was Auckland's young NPC tighthead prop Grant Hill, who has been in reasonable form in the Auckland club competition.

Those squad dramas mean Carlos Spencer remains at second five-eighths, from where his coach believes he could be a great hit if his training was translated on to the paddock.

The Brumbies clash was not an evening for great experiment, said Rowlands.

The Blues were after victory to help the Canterbury Crusaders' playoff hopes, for those coming to the end of their Blues careers, for pride, and to give some final-game succour to a poor season.

Captain Robin Brooke wanted to finish with some of the style the Blues used to deliver.

This week had been strange, coming to training with no hope of a semifinal when for the last three years the Blues' work in May had been all about those playoffs.

While rumours are growing that Brooke may be the new All Black captain named in less than a fortnight, the experienced lock would not speculate on that conjecture, though he confirmed it was a target he aspired to.

The Brumbies yesterday lost tighthead prop Patricio Noriega after he injured his hamstring in the final training session.

"We could have done without losing Noriega before we left but that's the way it goes," coach Eddie Jones said.

"Scoring four tries against the best defensive side is a challenge, I agree, but we have shown we can score tries this year."

Jones expected big performances from his captain and flanker, Brett Robinson, and centre Stirling Mortlock.

"Robbo has played outstandingly well in our last two matches," Jones said.

"His efforts have been all the more impressive because he hasn't been 100 per cent fit. He is super keen for Friday night and I know he will play well.

"David Wilson looks to have the Australian job tied up at the moment but if he is still injured the Wallabies will lose nothing by having Robbo in the team."

* With a broadcasters' and NZRFU agreement that there should be only one Friday night game and there being no lights at Athletic Park for the only other New Zealand game, involving the Hurricanes and Highlanders, the Blues had to play tomorrow just three days after returning from South Africa.

Blues: Adrian Cashmore, Joeli Vidiri, Marc Ellis, Doug Howlett, Carlos Spencer, Tony Monaghan, Mark Robinson, Xavier Rush, Justin Collins, Glenn Taylor, Robin Brooke (capt), Troy Flavell, Jason Barrell, Slade McFarland, Craig Dowd. Reserves: Rua Tipoki, Keith Lowen, Steve Devine, Finau Maka, Michael Jones, Paul Mitchell, a prop.