The defeats of Wellington and Waikato and the imminent return to duty of every All Black previously on test match duty have combined to open up this season's competition and guarantee an exciting and fascinating couple of months of rugby.

Northland played the sort of game they were expected to produce against Waikato the previous weekend. The dominance of their scrum, the excellence of their second row and the quality of the back row play of Justin Collins were all factors which allowed the Northlanders to get a two-try start on Wellington and to sustain their advantage to the very end. The home side were also probably guilty of taking their opponents too lightly, perhaps having taken far too much notice of all the hype which surrounds them and forgetting to get the on-field basics absolutely right. Having complained of a lop-sided fixture list which gave them three away matches to open their championship, Northland now find themselves in an intriguing situation. As well as they played last season, their away form was woeful, a barrier to their aspiring higher than a mid-table finish. But having won on the road twice this season they can approach their home games with a real sense of purpose. Win all those and they are real play-off contenders. They are up against North Harbour this weekend, then play Auckland, Taranaki and Counties-Manukau before the end of September. Rugby followers in Whangarei are in for some vintage NPC rugby and there is some real quality in their side.

Taranaki's win on Friday evening over Waikato was less of a surprise, given the power of the home side's pack and the sapping energy that goes into Waikato's defence of the Ranfurly Shield. On this occasion, however, Taranaki played a much more complete game, their backs looking sharper and playing with much greater purpose.In this form they will be a handful for every other side , and Wellington will not relish their post-Northland rehabilitation against them at the Westpac Stadium next Saturday evening.On the other hand, Waikato will look forward to the relatively easier task of a home Shield defence against Southland - although I am sure they will not allow complacency to creep into their preparations.

Canterbury coach Robbie Deans has announced that for Friday'clash against Auckland at Eden Park all ten of his All Blacks will be available for selection.On Saturday, against Counties-Manukau, his side struggled in the first half to contain a side playing with intelligence and organization. The second half introduction of the five All Blacks sitting on the bench had an immediate impact, Reuben Thorne getting two tries and the forward effort proving just too much for the courageous Counties side. The Eden Park showdown promises a trial of srength, one which could have a significant bearing on the eventual identity of this season's champions.

Auckland are sitting at the top of the table , but their opening home victory over Taranaki was the only one in which they have shown anything like title-defending form. Canterbury are guaranteed to provide a stiffer examination and to force Auckland to play at their very best. Having discarded the likes of Robin Brooke and Eroni Clarke pre-season, coach Wayne Pivac has been forced to call upon their services to shore up his side. In Orene Ai'i on the wing he possesses some real firepower, but the Canterbury defence will be less obliging. Southland coach Leicester Rutledge professed himself reasonably satisfied with the progress of his side, but after three successive home defeats they are about to be seriously tested on the road.

Although Albany offered North Harbour the opportunity to play their expansive style of attacking rugby against Otago, they adopted the sort of wet weather tactics that they were incapable of producing the previous week in Christchurch. Not that Otago proved very adept at exploiting their second half advantage in possession and territory. Having lost their first two home matches , the southerners were desperate for championship points but, on reflection, coach Kevin Gloag may feel that his five All Blacks were not ready to return so soon after their South African jaunt. With the return of Tony Brown, Carl Hoeft and Taine Randell for Saturday's visit of Counties-Manukau to Carisbrook Otago may finally be back to full strength in the hope of salvaging something from the season.

This weekend's round four fixtures are :

Friday :
Auckland v Canterbury (Auckland )

Saturday :
Waikato v Southland (Hamilton , Ranfurly Shield challenge )
Otago v Counties-Manukau ( Dunedin )
Wellington v Taranaki ( Wellington )

Sunday :
Northland v North Harbour(Whangarei)

Some great action is promised in the North Island, where all the focus will be on events in Auckland, Wellington and Whangarei.