Taranaki face defining match

BY GLENN MCLEAN

The 10-day break between games appears to have done Taranaki the world of good ahead of tomorrow's national provincial rugby championship match against Auckland at Eden Park.

Tenderlink Taranaki travel north today refreshed after being forced to cram three games into 12 days, the last of which ended with a 25-15 win over Otago in Dunedin.

The physical toll the schedule put on the players was noticeable, with many returning this week after a couple of days off looking considerably sharper.

Sitting third at the start of round six, the squad are satisfied with the work done in getting four out of five wins, but they know Auckland is a defining match.

While New Zealand's most successful union has not found top gear in the opening weeks, they have the potential to beat up on any side off their stride.

Taranaki know from past experiences when sides from here have gone to Eden Park confident, only to be smashed off the paddock.

The fact that it has been five years since Taranaki upset Auckland should not be ignored, although this is a very different side to some wheeled out in the past two or three years.

While several players have spoken this week about the need to cut Auckland's sizeable ball runners down early, Taranaki coach Colin Cooper stressed the defensive line as a whole would have to lift its performance from the past couple of games.

"Our defence is going to be really tested by an Auckland team that, given the ball, can play with a lot of continuity [and] has an X-factor sprinkled through them," he said. "We're really clear on what we have to do defensively. Everyone thinks our defence went well (against Otago) but it didn't."

Cooper has made several changes to his starting XV, giving reserve prop Carl Carmichael his first start in 15 appearances, while abrasive flanker Jarrad Hoeata returns from injury to replace Scott Waldrom, who suffered a broken thumb in Dunedin.

Former Auckland wing David Smith returns after missing last week with a hamstring injury. Smith's return sees Kurt Baker shift back to fullback, with last week's man-of-the-match Beauden Barrett dropping to the bench.

Carmichael's inclusion was driven by the need, Cooper said, to keep players fresh, while Barrett is still likely to see plenty of time off the bench.

The coaching staff have resisted the urge to include replacement hooker Mahonri Schwalger in the starting side, with Cooper rewarding Timo Tutavaha for a strong, if not always accurate, performance against Otago.

"Mo [Schwalger] has fitted in really well," he said.

"He's had a week to adjust to time zones.

"We"re really pleased with what he's bringing to the young guys already."

Auckland coach Mark Anscombe was not prepared to give several under-performing players another chance after his side slipped to sixth on the ITM Cup table, four points behind Taranaki.

While there are several injury-enforced changes as well as the loss of John Afoa and Benson Stanley, who will be flying to Sydney with the All Blacks, Anscombe was unimpressed with the 16-35 loss to Canterbury last weekend and has opted to give younger players a chance.

Lock Liaki Moli gets his first start in place of Kurtis Haiu, Bryce Heem has been recalled from his loan spell at Northland to cover Dave Thomas, who was concussed, while Chris Lowrey starts at No8.

Flanker Onosa'i Auva'a hyper extended his knee during training this week and aggravated old cartilage damage.

The injury could potentially rule the 25-year-old out for the rest of the season.

Peter Saili switches from No8 to cover Auva'a at blindside flanker.

Atieli Pakalani returns to the wing with Charles Piutau dropping out of the squad, while centre Ben Atiga and prop Tevita Mailau also return to the starting team in place of Afoa and Stanley.

On the bench, import flanker Adam Kleeberger, who has played 22 internationals for Canada, gets his first crack for Auckland and New Zealand age group prop Angus Ta'avao replaces Pauliasi Manu.

Anscombe made no secret of the fact he wants to see sharp improvement from his side after two below-par performances.

"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."

He believed Taranaki are a far better side with the improvements they've made in their backline this year through recruitment and says his side will have to be on their guard from the visitors looking to attack out wide.

"They have a bit of strike power out wide," he said. "So it gives them options in their game and you've got to be aware what they can do out wide.

"Also, their forward pack have got to be able to lay a platform and if they can do that, it doesn't matter who you've got out there. If we stop and that and you're only giving them scraps and the ball is going backwards, then they're not going to do anything."

AUCKLAND v TARANAKI

Eden Park, Auckland

2.35pm, Sky Sport 1

Referee: Bryce Lawrence

AUCKLAND: Brent Ward, Atieli Pakalani, Ben Atiga, Jamie Helleur, Bryce Heem, Matt Berquist, Toby Morland, Chris Lowrey, Daniel Braid (captain), Peter Saili, Andrew Van der Heijden, Liaki Moli, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Angus Ta'avao, Kurtis Haiu, Adam Kleeberger, Brenton Helleur, Gareth Anscombe, Winston Stanley.

TARANAKI: Kurt Baker, Andre Taylor, George Pisi, Jayden Hayward, David Smith, Willie Ripia, Tyson Keats, Ben Souness, Chris Walker, Jarrad Hoeata, Craig Clarke (captain), James Broadhurst, Michael Bent, Timo Tutavaha, Carl Carmichael. Reserves, Mahonri Schwalger, Shane Cleaver, Kane Barrett, Samuela Vunisa, Brett Goodin, Beauden Barrett, Isaia Tuifua.

TAB odds: Auckland $1.65 Taranaki $2.15

- © Fairfax NZ News