Auckland coach wary of Taranaki backline

Auckland rugby coach Mark Anscombe says the key to beating Taranaki tomorrow will be to take their forwards out of the game.

Anscombe is wary of Taranaki's backline which includes Tyson Keats, Willie Ripia, Kurt Baker, Jayden Hayward, George Pisi and Andre Taylor.

Together they form one of the most dangerous backlines in the ITM Cup, but Anscombe, still smarting from his side's woeful performance against Canterbury, says that if they can beat Taranaki up front they'll silence their backs.

"They play a more rounded style of rugby now, so those backs give them that balance," Anscombe said.

"What we've got to do is to dominate up front and get go-forward ball and if we do that we're going to give our backs decent ball to attack from."

Sixth-placed Auckland have had a mixed season and for them to be genuine playoff contenders they need to win home games like this one.

Taranaki, placed third going into week six, have been flying since their slip-up against Northland in week one.

"They've been scoring some good tries, they start well, they have a strong pack and this year they've got some dangerous outside backs," Anscombe said.

Taranaki are without flanker Scott Waldrom, who suffered a broken hand which will sideline him for a month, while Anscombe made seven changes to the starting lineup that lost 35-16 to Canterbury, with Blues lock Kurtis Haiu the biggest casualty.

In Whangarei today, Northland will try and break the toughest defensive line this season when they host unbeaten Southland, who have conceded just 80 points in five matches.

Northland last week gave Wellington a run for their money before going down 31-28, but a maturing game plan featuring straight running could see an upset on the cards.

A Northland win could see Wellington go top if they beat Manawatu in Palmerston North today.

Tonight's other match sees North Harbour attempt to bounce back from last week's 39-29 loss to Bay of Plenty when they host Waikato – fresh from a 39-3 walloping of Counties-Manukau.

Tomorrow, Hawke's Bay eye their second win of the season when they play bottom-placed Otago in Dunedin.

- © Fairfax NZ News