Aisle be Back: The Lions semi-final and the All Blacks squad

Above: Old Boys University pair No. 8 Teariki Ben Nicholas (with ball) and fullback Wes Goosen both start for the Wellington Lions in their NPC semi-final on Saturday afternoon at Eden Park. 

No matter how good Auckland have been this season, I bet most of you are feeling optimistic about Saturday’s huge semi at Eden Park.

What’s not to feel good about. With Dane Coles in the mix and Vaea Fifita having fought his way back into the All Blacks A squad, they have got to be the go.

At least there’s nothing dour about the two teams. It should be a high-scoring affair.

But trust Wellington to do things the hard way; with the best points diff in the comp they still managed to leave it late to get through.

That’s no doubt down to that early loss to Waikato in the cross-over game. They’re potential killers.

But anyway, if the Lions are to tilt for the title this year, it would inevitably involve two away wins wouldn’t it? There’s something in this province’s rugby DNA.

As for Tasman hosting Canterbury, I can’t shake the suspicion that the red and blacks will find a way to win.

It will be interesting off season to see what happens at Taranaki. Too proud a province to accept relegation easily. As the Lions can attest, it’s easier to wind up in the bottom cellar than it is to climb back out.

Finally great to see the Shield moving once again, onto Otago and its third home in one year. It remains one of the tragedies of the modern game that log clashes are no longer the highlight of any season.

Kick-off at Eden Park is 5.05pm.

The Wellington Lions squad to meet Auckland is:

15 Wes Goosen (Old Boys University)
14 Ben Lam (Tawa)
13 Matt Proctor (Oriental-Rongotai) (c)
12 Billy Proctor (Marist St Pats)
11 Malo Tuitama (Oriental-Rongotai)
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop (Northern United)
9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Tawa)
8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Old Boys University)
7 Mateaki Kafatolu (Petone)
6 James Blackwell (Petone)
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Poneke)
4 Sam Lousi (Marist St Pats)
3 Jeff To'omaga-Allen (Marist St Pats)
2 Asafo Aumua (Avalon)
1 Sitiveni Paongo (Tawa)

Reserves

16 Dane Coles (Poneke)
17 Tolu Fahamokioa (Tawa)
18 Joel Hintz (Old Boys University)
19 Galu Taufale (Poneke)
20 Du'Plessis Kirifi (Northern United)
21 Carlos Price (Petone)
22 Losi Filipo (Petone)
23 Trent Renata (Oriental-Rongotai)

++++++++

In the American Civil War, a brigadier was asked by another commander about his objective in the battle of Gettysburg. It wasn’t that difficult to get there he reckoned, but it was difficult to stay there.

Pretty much sums up the All Blacks these days. It takes about three days of analysis to understand who everyone is; I hope the coaches carry around face recognition software.

Anyway, when there’s a squad of 51 being picked this guarantees a few things.

Someone will forget their passport.

Someone will remember their passport but catch the wrong flight.

Someone will forget their passport, miss their flight, and not be noticed absent till halftime at Twickenham because the oranges haven’t been quartered.

A tubby bloke from Timaru with a beard should try his hand at sneaking into business class in his replica jersey.

There’s an even higher chance you come from a town with a current All Black.

About 15 guys just got a wee price boost if the Panasonic Rodeos come calling.

There’ll be even more clickbait headlines about All Blacks stars doing something not newsworthy.

Someone will hum that Statler Brothers song about playing solitaire alone, with a deck of 51.

And tragically, we’ve lost one of the things to take the mickey out of Clive Woodward about. That only leaves about 20 others.