How They Look, From North To South

BY TOBY ROBSON

NORTHLAND

Coach: Bryce Woodward

Summary: Rene Ranger and Jared Payne are genuine game-breakers, but the depth has already been tested in preseason and it shapes as a long season.

NORTH HARBOUR

Coach: Craig Dowd

Summary: Luke McAlister is the trump card in the backs and lock Filo Paulo and No8 Mathew Luamanu are comers, but there's a lot of untried youth, so the jury's out.

AUCKLAND

Coach: Mark Anscombe

Summary: Veterans Ben Atiga, Brent Ward and Daniel Braid add experience and Charlie Faumuina and Tevita Mailau provide grunt up front. But is there a rudder? Matt Berquist's arrival from Hawke's Bay seems desperate for the country's biggest province.

COUNTIES-MANUKAU

Coach: Milton Haig

Summary: Tana Umaga's a boost and Sherwin Stowers and Tim Nanai-Williams are brilliant out wide, but where is a competitive pack?

WAIKATO

Coach: Chris Gibbes

Summary: Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Christian Lealifano, Jackson Willison and Dwayne Sweeney mean a quality backline. But it gets pretty thin pretty quickly after hooker Aled de Malmanche in the pack.

BAY OF PLENTY

Coach: Sean Horan

Summary: The dark horse. James McGougan and Luke Andrews are part of a solid pack, Tanerau Latimer, Luke Braid and Colin Bourke a class loose trio and Mike Delany a good rudder at first-five.

TARANAKI

Coach: Colin Cooper

Summary: Halfback Tyson Keats feeds a slick backline that ends with David Smith, Kurt Baker and Andre Taylor. But are there enough props to keep the show on the road?

HAWKE'S BAY

Coach: Peter Russell

Summary: Key men in key positions from hooker Hika Elliot, lock Bryn Evans, openside Karl Lowe, to halfback Kahn Fotuali'i and wing Zac Guildford. The Magpies will miss No8 Thomas Waldrom's go-forward and lack punch in midfield.

MANAWATU

Coach: Dave Rennie

Summary: Well led by Nick Crosswell and some promise in halfback Aaron Smith and wings Shannon Paku and Lote Raikabula, but the pack lacks bite, Aaron Cruden's in the All Blacks and there's no midfield.

WELLINGTON

Coach: Jamie Joseph

Summary: So much experience with Neemia Tialata and Rodney So'oialo in the pack and Alby Mathewson at halfback. Throw in Alapati Leiua, Hosea Gear and Julian Savea in the backs and the points should flow. The concern will be if first-five Fa'atonu Fili goes down early. Michael Hobbs is still injured and talented backups Hayden Cripps and Lima Sopoaga are untried at this level.

TASMAN

Coach: Kieran Keane

Summary: Tasman have finishers in Afeleki Pelenise, Kade Poki and Robbie Malneek, but despite veteran lock Chris Jack and openside Jonathon Poff, the backs won't see much ball.

CANTERBURY

Coach: Rob Penney

Summary: At full strength Canterbury are dominant, but they have some challenges early with injuries and unavailability including star backs Sonny Bill Williams and Robbie Fruean. However, players such as prop Wyatt Crockett, and openside George Whitelock and backs such as Sean Maitland, Stephen Brett, Colin Slade and Ryan Crotty will ensure they are there at the end.

OTAGO

Coach: Phil Mooney

Summary: Alando Soakai and Adam Thomson are a top-class duo in the loose forwards and Ben Smith and Fetu'u Vainikolo will strike out wide, but there's not a lot else.

SOUTHLAND

Coaches: David Henderson and Simon Culhane

Summary: Strong up front with Jamie Mackintosh, Jason Rutledge and Chris King and some promise in the backs in Kendrick Lynn, Robbie Robinson and Glen Horton.

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