Auckland and Southland stand toe-to-toe in Eden Park - ITM Cup Preview: Rugby
Auckland and Southland are scheduled to meet in their upcoming clash of ITM Cup 2011 on August 3 in Eden Park. The match has a great value for the Auckland side as it has won just one match after four outgoings and another defeat can rule them out from the
play-off run. Auckland has secured just six points so fat and has been placed on last place on the point’s tables among the other Group A teams. The Southlanders too had a slow start in the tournament and won two games after playing four matches.
The sides have been struggling with their poor performance and fitness in the tournament. The Auckland side had an especially terrible season as they have remained totally unimpressive with their sluggish attack. Their leaky defence has cost them too much
in the matches played so far as they have conceded 128 points in just four games.
The Auckland team lost two early matches of the ITM Cup to Canterbury and Otago easily and played a little better against Wellington on July 23, as they tasted their first win of the season by a narrow margin of 21-17. The last game they played against
Taranaki was their worst show of the season as they were dealt a humiliating defeat of 11-39, on July 31.
Auckland’s coach, Mark Anscombe, told the reporters on August 3 that his side is working hard at their deficiencies after the stunning defeat by Taranaki. He hoped that his team will put a better effort in the match against Southland and said, “We had a
good recovery yesterday, meetings with the leadership group and also a good team chat now. We know what's required and what we need to do. We've dug ourselves this hole and we're the ones that have to get ourselves out of it.”
Meanwhile, Southland had a shaky start in the tournament but they have managed to keep up appearances with a 50 percent winning result in the tournament. However, they will miss their skipper Daniel Braid along with three other key players due to various
injuries. Some new faces are expected to be included in Southland’s squad after sustaining a number of injuries in the tournament.
Joe Rokocoko, Gareth Anscombe and Chris Lowrey will be the key players to help their side Auckland to win a do or die match. On the other hand James Wilson, Tony Koonwaiyou and Ben Nally will be players to watch out for Southland in the absence of their
skipper Daniel Braid and three others.
Auckland has got a wonderful record at Eden Park as they have not lost a match to Southland since 1939 and the same is expected in the upcoming clash.
Teams for August 3:
Auckland: 15 Brent Ward, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Hadleigh Parkes, 12 Teddy Stanaway, 11 Francis Saili, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Chris Lowrey, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Nathan Hughes, 5 Josh Townsend, 4 Steven Luatua, 3 Charlie Faumuina,
2 Ash Dixon, 1 Tom McCartney (c).
Replacements: 16 Pauliasi Manu, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Richard Haddon, 19 Ben Masoe, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Piers Francis, 22 George Moala, 23 Angus Ta'avao.
Southland: 15 Glen Horton, 14 Kade Poki, 13 James Lew, 12 James Wilson, 11 Tony Koonwaiyou, 10 Scott Eade, 9 Sonny Rangitoheriri, 8 Kaleni Taetuli, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Tom Chamberlain, 5 Joe Tuineau, 4 Ben Nally, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge,
1 Micheal Peterson.
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Michael Fatialofa, 19 Elliot Dixon, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Matt Saunders, 22 Robbie Robinson, 23 Nic Barrett.
Tags: