Auckland make seven changes

BY DAVID LONG

Auckland coach Mark Anscombe has made wholesale changes to his team for Sunday's match against Taranaki at Eden Park.

There are seven changes to the starting team that lost to Canterbury last weekend while there are four changes to the bench.

A number of the moves have been caused by injuries or players returning to the All Blacks (Benson Stanley and John Afoa), but others are because of form with the biggest casualty being Blues lock Kurtis Haiu who has been demoted to the bench.

Anscombe said the reason behind the high number of changes was to refresh the side after poor performances against Northland and Canterbury.

''We didn't play well and we weren't overly happy with the win the week before,'' Anscombe said.

''We want to have competition within the squad and we've put a few young guys in there to get some fresh legs out there.

''It also challenges and we want to have a healthy environment where guys are accountable for performances.''

Anscombe said he expected to bring Haui into the game at some point, but felt he should reward the promising Liaki Moli with a start.

''Liaki has had a good year, he was a star for the New Zealand Under 20 side over in Argentina and he came off the bench against Canterbury and performed well,'' he said.

''He's a very powerful man, he's mobile, gets around and know he'll have a presence there and he'll knock people around.

''With the energy level of someone young it might enlighten a few of the others.''

Anscombe has brought wing Bryce Heem back from his loan spell Northland to play, replacing Dave Thomas, who's out with concussion.

''When we loaned Bryce the key for us was that we couldn't guarantee him game time at the start of the year,'' Anscombe said.

''So when Northland were looking, it was always going to be under the condition that it was only going to be for four to six weeks and we managed to leave him up there for six.

''It's benefited Bryce in the fact that he's got some game time and with the couple of injuries we've had with our outside backs it's timely to bring him back.''

Peter Saili has moved from No 8 to blindside flanker for the game, in place of Onosa'i Auva'a who is likely to miss the rest season with a knee injury.

Coming onto the bench is Canadian international Adam Kleeberger, who set to make his debut for the province.

''He came out here looking for experience,'' Anscombe of Kleeberger, who's won 22 caps for his country.

''He'll obviously be here with the Canadian team next year (for the World Cup) and he's fitted in well.

''With Onosa'i falling out it's a good time to bring him in and have a look at him and see what he brings.''

 AUCKLAND

15. Brent Ward

14. Atieli Pakalani

13. Ben Atiga

12. Jamie Helleur

11. Bryce Heem

10. Matt Berquist

9. Toby Morland

8. Chris Lowrey

7. Daniel Braid (c)

6. Peter Saili

5. Andrew van der Heijden

4. Liaki Moli

3. Charlie Faumuina

2. Tom McCartney

1. Tevita Mailau

Reserves: Ash Dixon, Angus Ta'avao, Kurtis Haiu, Adam Kleeberger, Brenton Helleur, Gareth Anscombe, Winston Stanley.

- © Fairfax NZ News