Waikato All Blacks not likely for Shield game

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato are unlikely to field any current All Blacks for Sunday's local derby Ranfurly Shield challenge against Bay of Plenty.

Coach John Mitchell said yesterday that he was waiting to speak to the three players returning from South Africa - Jono Gibbes, Marty Holah and Byron Kelleher - and was also expecting contact from the All Black management.

But Mitchell said that, judging by his own experience as All Black coach, players were not ready to go straight into the NPC after the draining experience of test rugby. He said that would even apply to Kelleher, who has had little game time.

"Rather than having a general rule, we'll look at it case by case, but it is very unlikely any of them will play this week," said Mitchell, speaking before Bay of Plenty's upset win at Eden Park. "I expect there will be a recommendation from the All Black management."

Waikato opened their NPC campaign in sparkling fashion on Saturday night, crushing Southland by 52-23 at Waikato Stadium.

And after an injury-plagued opening to the season - with test lock Keith Robinson among those on the long casualty list - they escaped without further damage against Southland. Prop Michael Collins, hooker Scott Linklater and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu could be fit for a return in Tauranga.

Waikato were expected to face a tougher fight from Southland, especially as they had so many frontline players missing.

Mitchell said the key moments came near halftime, when his side kept out Southland, who piled on 11 phases of play near the goal-line.

Waikato went to the break with a 28-13 advantage, and a try to captain Steven Bates in the 44th minute put Southland out of the game.

Among the most impressive of the Waikato side was first five-eighths David Hill, whose power caused Southland problems. And Hill had a brilliant night with the boot, missing just once from 10 attempts.

In New Plymouth, unheralded wing Za Lawrence was a late hero for North Harbour, who faded to a 29-33 defeat against Taranaki.

Taranaki unveiled an exciting looking backline to go with their tough forwards. Australian first five-eighths Brock James took an increasingly strong hand and starred with his goal-kicking.

Fellow Australian import Jimmy Hilgendorf, former Manawatu midfield back Lifeimi Mafi and Samoan wing Sailosi Tagicakibau appear to be adding a new potency to the Taranaki back division.

Taranaki had to fight back from a 3-17 deficit, coach Kieran Crowley saying: "I would have been easy to drop our heads at that stage but we managed to get it together and get hold of the ball."

Lawrence, however, snared two bonus points for North Harbour, running cleverly infield and beating three defenders on fulltime to score his side's fourth try.

The 22-year-old had mixed fortunes after coming on for Hosea Gear, but came up with the goods as Harbour sought the bonus points.

Coach Allan Pollock said after the match he told Lawrence, who was making his first class debut, to concentrate on the positives.

"I said to him, 'you do some crazy, crazy things sometimes and then you do some very, very good things'."

Meanwhile, Northland chief executive Tim Hamilton hopes Australian import Julian Huxley will be able to line up for them in the remainder of the season.

Huxley's international clearance did not come through in time for Saturday's match against Otago in Dunedin, where Northland looked capable of causing a massive upset before fading to a 24-40 defeat.

Captain Jared Going, who moved in to first five-eighths, starred for Northland, as did his second half replacement Josh Levi.

Hamilton was unsure what the problem was in getting the clearance.