This from stuff today.........
Auckland name squad for ITM Cup By MARC HINTON
Auckland rugby coach Mark Anscombe believes he has a squad capable of challenging for the title in what's shaping as a hugely competitive final season of the national provincial championship in its present format.
Anscombe on Monday unveiled his 26-strong squad for the ITM Cup which gets under way over the final weekend of the month. Auckland kick off with the always anticipated Battle of the Bridge derby against North Harbour in Albany on August 1.
He has named a quartet of uncapped players and three others new to the Auckland scene in a group that at this stage doesn't include any of the union's five All Blacks, but does number experienced old hands Daniel Braid, Brent Ward and Ben Atiga who are all available again after stints either offshore or out of the game.
The rookie contingent includes world champion New Zealand Under-20 stars Liaki Moli (lock) and Sean Polwart (flanker), as well as winger Charles Piutau who represented Tonga at the world age-grade event in Argentina.
The fourth newcomer is Otahuhu prop Halani Aulika.
Experienced campaigners first five Matt Berquist (ex-Hawke's Bay) and halfback Toby Morland (ex-Otago) also come into the region for the first time, as does promising young Hawke's Bay hooker Ash Dixon who gets his chance to push for a Super rugby callup.
Anscombe will filter the All Blacks back into his squad as and when they become available, but has learned that it doesn't pay to rely on their presence.
"I think it's got a good balance," said Anscombe of his squad's makeup. "There's some youth and some experience, with the likes of Braid, Ward and Atiga back. Add in Berquist and Morland and there's a lot of experience there, which balances those young guys. One of the things we lacked a bit last year was that balance of leadership and experience.
"Our goal is to get to the playoffs this year," he added. "It's a tough competition over 13 rounds, and hopefully we don't have too many major injuries and we can keep our boys on the park. If we can get that I think we can be a serious contender."
Anscombe described the return of Braid - bidding for an All Black recall as Richie McCaw's understudy - as "enormous". He will captain the side in Benson Stanley's absence with the national team.
"He showed in Queensland this year he's a class act, clearly in my book the second best No 7 in New Zealand. He's played 78 games for Auckland, 59 for the Blues... you can't buy that experience. He commands a lot from the guys and his leadership will be enormous."
Anscombe said he's also expecting veteran backs Ward and Atiga to "set standards" as they enter a new phase in their careers.
He's also putting the acid on Super rugby performers like props Charlie Faumuina and Tevita Mailau, loose forwards Peter Saili and Chris Lowrey and lock Andrew van der Heijden to show their class at this level.
"They need to start performing consistently," he said. "We know they're all capable of having a good game, but they've got to do it the next week as well. If we had a weakness last year it was around inconsistency and not backing up a big performance."
Auckland were fifth in Anscombe's first year in charge and though the New Zealand under-20 assistant is confident he has a group capable of improving on that, he's is wary of what appears to be a fairly level playing field.
With the competition to split next year into a top and bottom seven based on this year's finishing positions, unions have done plenty of scrambling for talent in a bid to make that all-important cutoff.
"A lot of the middle tier of teams have done a lot of recruiting and spending," said Anscombe. "The likes of Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Southland and Tasman have all got strong squads. You set a goal of wanting to make the semis but it's going to be a battle royale just to get into the top seven."
Essentially teams will have twin goals in 2010 in what Anscombe calls the "competition within the competition". The primary one will be to make the semifinals, but secondary to that will be avoiding a spot in the second-tier competition for 2011.
It's why Anscombe says he's nervous about all his opponents in the looming 13-2week round-robin.
"Teams have put so much into making the top seven we're not going to take anyone lightly. They're all threats and if you don't look at it that way someone will sneak up and bite you on the butt."
Auckland squad for ITM Cup:
Halani Aulika, Ben Atiga, Onosa'i Auva'a, Matt Berquist, Daniel Braid, Ash Dixon, Charlie Faumuina, Kurtis Haiu, Brenton Helleur, Jamie Helleur, Chris Lowrey, Tevita Mailau, Pauliasi Manu, Tom McCartney, Ash Moeke, Liaki Moli, Toby Morland, Atieli Pakalani, Charles Piutau, Sean Polwart, Chay Raui, Peter Saili, Winston Stanley, Dave Thomas, Andrew Van der Heijden, Brent Ward.
All Blacks: John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Jerome Kaino, Benson Stanley, Joe Rokocoko.
Not considered due to injury: Auvasa Faleali'i, Isaia Toeava, Teddy Stanaway, Ali Williams.
Auckland has already had two of three pre-season fixtures ahead of their first match of the ITM Cup on Sunday, August 1 (versus North Harbour at North Harbour Stadium).
They are as follows:
Auckland v Waikato Waikato Stadium Thursday, July 8 Kick-off 6.00pm Lost 14-36
Auckland v Counties-Manukau The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere Wednesday, July 14 Kick-off 7.30pm Drew 33-33
to come....
Auckland v Northland Farmlands Park, Dargaville Wednesday, July 21 Kick-off 3.30pm (Afoa , Stanley & Ranger have been released for this!
Be interesting how old hands Atiga & Ward fare in ITM Cup!
. Could do with ONE win up NORTH!
Cheers,
Baz
