KEY POINTS:
The last time Southland beat Auckland the hottest music act on the planet was Simon and Garfunkel.
In 1971, the folk duo's Bridge Over Troubled Water scooped the record, song and album of the year titles at the Grammys. Idi Amin seized power in Uganda, Mao Zedong invited the US ping pong team to play in China and Southland beat Auckland.
Quite a year.
"I didn't think it had been that long," said Southland co-coach Simon Culhane of the 36-year wait between drinks.
Southland's most recent victory pre-dated the formation of New Zealand's national rugby competition.
In 19 championship encounters, Auckland have won 18 and drawn just the one.
The win-loss ledger might be one-sided but many of the matches haven't been, as Culhane well knows from his playing days. In 1995 Culhane was part of the Southland side that squandered a 19-6 halftime lead to lose 22-19 in Invercargill.
Recent history between the two sides is littered with countless "ones that got away".
"Even two years ago when we played in Auckland there was just one point in it," Culhane recalled.
"We were hammering away too and we chose some poor field goal options. We were in front about 20 metres out and we ran it, so we ended up trying a field goal from 60m.
"But with all the new players in our side history doesn't mean to much to them. A lot of these guys have only played Auckland two or three times and we have been close. It might be third time lucky."
Auckland appear to have opened the door slightly by picking inexperienced first five-eighths Lachie Munro and an experimental front row, but Culhane believes those changes represent a shrewd manoeuvre by Auckland coach Pat Lam.
With Southland also without their first five-eighths, James Wilson, and their two first choice hookers, who all picked up injuries in last weekend's victory at Taranaki, Culhane went as far as wondering if Lam had seen Southland's team sheet before naming his own side.
Regular prop Saimone Taumoepeau's switch to hooker should certainly be made easier by the absence of Jason Rutledge and David Hall, who have more than 100 Southland caps at hooker between them. Taumoepeau will instead be up against former New Zealand Colt Matt Holloway, who is making his first championship start.
"It's a pretty good move from them," said Culhane of Auckland's rotation.
"They have got a hell of a lot of depth. They may not have as much as they thought they did in the hooking department, I'm not sure. Or maybe they are targeting our scrum. That's a pretty big front row they are putting out."
Lam may have rung the changes but he is expecting the newcomers to perform.
"We can't carry anyone," Lam said.
"If you are part of the team you step up and do your bit. What I'm after right through is guys going full out."
Lam is expecting a ferocious effort from Southland after they were severely embarrassed by Hawkes Bay in their only home match of the season to date in round one.
"Playing them down there is tough," he said.
"We haven't been down there since'04 and we just scraped away with a win in the last minute. And in'05 we were 29-3 up and they came back at us. It just shows the mentality of the guys from the Deep South. So the boys are really aware that we have a real battle. We don't want to be high one week and then be down. Consistency is what we have worked for over the last three years and it is an area we want to maintain."
Lam also rubbished suggestions Auckland had an easy draw until they face Canterbury in round 10.
"We don't see it that way at all. We see every game as a test. Wellington found that out when they put 60 on Otago and then lost to Hawkes Bay the following week.
"If anything, what happens is that everyone steps up their intensity against Auckland. It is their test match and we have to be on our game, otherwise we'll get bowled."
Culhane didn't quite see the match in those terms but he confirmed his players would be up for the task.
"We have no trouble motivating the guys to play against the Super 14 bases. It is the big guy versus the little guy."
Southland
Invercargill, 2.35pm today
Kendrick Lynn
Pehi Te Whare
Alesana Muliana
Jason Kauwau
Willie Rickards
Blair Stewart
Jimmy Cowan
Iona Sipa
Tim Boys
Hoani Macdonald
Daniel Ramsay
Josh Bekhuis
Clarke Dermody
Matt Holloway
Jamie Mackintosh
Auckland
Brent Ward
Benson Stanley
Ben Atiga
Sam Tuitupou (c)
David Smith
Lachie Munro
Taniela Moa
Brad Mika
O. Tololima-Auva'a
Angus Macdonald
Troy Flavell
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
S. Taumoepeau
Nick White
Reserves
Southland: Fai Mika, Jayden Murch, Noa Soqeta, Dion Bates, Phil Dawson, Lomani Tongotongo, Watisoni Lotawa.
Auckland: Tom McCartney, Chris Heard, Jerome Kaino, Daniel Braid, Grayson Hart, Isa Nacewa, Chris Mahoney.
