1969 was an interesting year both on and off the sporting field. Man walked on the moon for the first time (why you'd want to has me buggered) and on the sporting field Hawke’s Bay lost the Ranfurly Shield to Canterbury 18-11 after a magnificent reign of three years. But in relevance to this week's semi-final 1969 was the last time Hawke’s Bay defeated Auckland on Eden Park.

Now since then the Bay have taken some fearful battering's from Auckland. Remember 1993 in the shield challenge? Hawke's Bay although scoring five tries as a challenger (which was then a record still lost 69-31).1992 in Napier 40-9, 1984 65-6 at Nelson Park Hastings. But let’s leave those results where they belong in the past.

Hawke’s Bay faces their biggest challenge of the season tomorrow at Eden Park. They face an unbeaten Auckland team with its eyes firmly set on the Air New Zealand cup title, and a side riddled with both super 14 players and All Blacks. They have strengths all round, and no apparent weaknesses anywhere on the park. They also posses high impact off the bench, and a terrific coaching duo in Lam, and Howarth.

Now reading this most would think Hawke’s Bay are wasting their time even showing up (after all Auckland only have to show up and they'll win) but that’s not the case. This Hawke’s Bay side is full of heart and character, and will not be cannon fodder for their more fancied opposition. They have shown over the course of the season that you don't need a team full of stars, just a team that plays for each other, has belief, and a coach in Peter Russell who has so far been tactically accurate against some top sides. If all you needed was a team full of stars then please explain how this Hawke’s Bay team defeated Wellington Waikato (twice) Southland, North Harbour, Northland etc...

Hawke’s Bay need to take this belief into this game more than they have in any previous encounters so far this season. If anything they should emulate exactly what Northland did in Whangarei for a fair percentage of their game. Get in Auckland’s face, close their space, keep the game moving, and show absolutely no respect for names or reputation.

Now being logical, its hard to imagine anything but an Auckland victory (and believe me I am a die hard Hawke’s Bay fan) but irrespective of what happens I and thousands of Hawke’s Bay supporters can hold our heads up high and be proud of the way this team has represented us this year. To finish in the top four provinces in the second year back in the big time is a remarkable achievement and full credit to everyone associated with this team.

Although I cant be at Eden Park for the game I along with thousands of others will watching proud that our side has achieved what it has. And somehow I don't think we will be waiting 38 years for the next victory on Eden Park.

Go the BAY - your our team!

Mighty Hawke's Bay Magpies		vs	Auckland
1.	Fa’akanua Taumalolo		1.	Saimone Taumoepeau
2.	Hika Elliot		2.	Tom McCartney
3.	Tim Fairbrother		3.	John Afoa
4.	Matt Egan		4.	Kurtis Haiu
5.	Brynn Evans		5.	Jay Williams
6.	Michael Johnson (C)		6.	Jerome Kaino
7.	Karl Lowe		7.	Daniel Braid
8.	Grant Webb		8.	Bradley Mika
9.	Chris Eaton		9.	Taniela Moa
10.	Matt Berquist		10.	Isa Nacewa
11.	Zac Guildford		11.	Benson Stanley
12.	Sam Giddens		12.	Sam Tuitupou (C)
13.	Jason Shoemark		13.	Ben Atiga
14.	Ben Batger		14.	David Smith
15.	Isreal Dagg		15.	Brent Ward
16.	Jamie Muir		16.	Chris Heard
17.	Christian Pera		17.	Nick White
18.	Will Crutchley		18.	Troy Flavell
19.	George Naoupu		19.	Angus McDonald
20.	Chad Shepherd		20.	Grayson Hart
21.	Aayden Clarke		21.	Lachie Munro
22.	Justin Wilson		22.	Chris Mahony
Coach	Peter Russell		Coach	Pat Lam
	Tom Coventry			Shane Howarth
Referee	Chris Pollock
TJ's	Vinny Munro
	Josh Noonan
TMO	Brent Murray

THE LAY OF THE LAND

Auckland is looking to take a smash and bash approach into Saturday's Air New Zealand Cup semi-final with Hawke's Bay at Eden Park.

A similar game plan worked perfectly when the two teams met in round 6, with Auckland running rampant in a 38-11 victory that owed plenty to the blue-and-white forwards blasting their Magpies adversaries off McLean Park.

For the Magpies - well what a season - if they play hard and with the passion they have shown this year - upsets have been known to happen. Think France - Think BoP in 2004 lifting the shield from Auckland. Go the BAY.

HAWKE'S BAY
Coach PeterRussell is rapt with the way his side has trained this week and also with the way his players have recovered from their physical 38-35 quarterfinal win against defending champions Waikato at Napier's McLean Park last Sunday.

Winger Jason Kupa, who suffered a knee injury, is the only Magpie unavailable.

Waratahs Super 14 player Ben Batger switches from fullback to take Kupa's berth and world champion New Zealand under-19 player Dagg will start at fullback. Former New Zealand Sevens star Justin Wilson, a former Auckland representative, will take Dagg's berth on the subs bench.

AUCKLAND
Auckland today made two changes to their starting 15 to face Hawke's Bay in their Air New Zealand Cup semifinal at Eden Park on Saturday.

Coach Pat Lam has kept intact the backline that began the quarterfinal defeat of Taranaki last weekend, but brought back Brad Mika and Saimone Taumoepeau to the pack.

Mika returns at No 8, with Jerome Kaino moving to blindside flanker and Angus Macdonald dropping to the bench.

Taumoepeau's recall to loosehead prop means he rotates places with Chris Heard, who is back in the reserves after wearing the No 1 jersey last weekend.

 

THE RUN OF THE TAPE

HAWKE’S BAY v AUCKLAND
Saturday 13th Oct, 7.35 at Eden Park, Auckland

Played: 73, 1889–2007
Auckland wins: 53
Hawke’s Bay wins: 16
Draws: 4
Last match: Auckland 35 Hawke’s Bay 11, 30.08.07 at Napier (ANZC)
Last Hawke’s Bay win: Hawke’s Bay 34 Auckland 9, 25.09.74 at Napier
Biggest Auckland score: 69 (69–31), 05.06.93 at Auckland (NPC,RS)
Biggest Hawke’s Bay score: 41 (41–11), 21.08.26 at Napier (RS)
Biggest differential: Auckland by 59 (65–6), 19.08.84 at Hastings (NPC)

WALKING WOUNDED:
Pat Lam could hardly be accused of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic with the changes he's made this week, as he's simply moved the same 22 players around into slightly different combinations. His biggest strength may well be the five-All Black loose forward unit he can call upon.

Hawke's Bay has one player unavailable: winger Jason Kupa has been sidelined with a knee injury. Ben Batger shifts to the wing, Israel Dagg takes over at fullback and Justin Wilson moves onto the bench.

FORM:
Auckland has been the dominant team in this year's Air New Zealand Cup, winning every match – normally with plenty in hand – and piling up the tries along the way. After gathering 48 out of a possible 50 points from the round-robin, Auckland was far too good for Taranaki and took the match comfortably despite looking as if most players were not firing on all cylinders, which may be understandable given that several had been knocked around by a gastric virus in the lead-up.

Hawke's Bay's win on Sunday afternoon served to remind a lot of people who may have temporarily forgotten why New Zealanders follow rugby so avidly; recovering from an 11-point deficit with ten minutes to play against the playing-through champions was a mighty effort that fully deserved all the acclaim it received. Once again the Magpies showed how they had fashioned an 8-win, 3-loss record in 2007 by refusing to knuckle under when all may have seemed lost; no doubt that match will take a prominent place on season highlight reels.


WHO'S HOT:
Start from 1 and work through to 22 for Auckland, then repeat the exercise for Hawke's Bay and you wouldn't be far wrong. Most people would be well aware of Auckland's loose forward strength this season, especially as Daniel Braid has been outstanding, but perhaps the two biggest improvers in the pack have been Kurtis Haiu and John Afoa. Haiu's lineout work and Afoa's scrummaging have been features of Auckland's season and the pair are also dynamic around the park. Taniela Moa is another who has taken a step to the fore in 2007 and Isa Nacewa is running the ship nicely from first-five. Auckland's three-quarters are dangerous on attack and defence and Hawke's Bay will find breaking the blue and white line a lot harder than breaching the somewhat flimsy Waikato defence. Brent Ward reached 100 points for the season last week and Nacewa is poised to do so in this match, which would give Auckland a rare case of two centurions in the same side.

Hawke's Bay deserves to be recognised as much more than a Cinderella story, as no team forges an 8-win, 3-loss record by chance. The Bay's attention to detail is impressive and the team's commitment something that many other sides could learn from. While the Magpies may have their battles with bigger opponents, the tight five can never be accused of shirking and in Hika Elliot possess one of the more dynamic runners in the competition, although he may need to look to his ball security in this match as Auckland will be quick to capitalise on any spillages.

Bryn Evans and Matt Egan are an under-rated pair of locks and the Bay loose trio, while not full of All Blacks, contains three strong provincial players who don't know when to quit. Chris Eaton made another good fist of standing in for Danny Lee and Matt Berquist kicked two sensational goals. Sam Giddens caught the eye last week with his strong running (and match-winning try), often taking gaps created when the defence had an eye on Jason Shoemark and was caught in two minds.

WE THINK:
Well on form Auckland have everything running for them and are chock full of talent, but as France showed in the win against the All Blacks last week - it's all on the day. Maybe this day is Hawke's Bay as well - although Wayne Barnes couldn't make it this week.

It will be all or nothing for the Bay lads - they are a great team full of team players and have a self belief. The head does say Auckland but the heart that beats black and white blood says Hawke's Bay. 

SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID

Zac Guildford - Hawke's Bay Flyer
"It will be interesting because I really admire the way he plays. He has a lot of flair, it's awesome what he can do."
looking ahead to his challenge against the electric David Smith.

Peter Russell - Magpies Coach.
"We've worked on areas of our game which were exposed then. We were also missing three key players that night too."
referring to prop Tim Fairbother, centre Jason Shoemark and fullback Israel Dagg who missed the first game against Auckland.

 Benson Stanley - Auckland Winger
"Our skills were poor and we paid the price. We're looking for a big effort. The potential is there. It's just a matter of putting it all together."
noting that their effort against Taranaki were poor and that they will have to step up to play the Magpies.

Next Match

Well It's either a pre-season match in 2008 or it's the FINAL!!!! Lets hope it is the later!

Mr BMR789's tip
Get to Auckland anyway you can - and support the Magpies

Go the MAGPIES!!