NPC: Carlos injured in the garden
August 15, 2001

Auckland fly half Carlos Spencer has come up with a unique reason for missing training with the NPC side this week - he strained his back while gardening.

The green fingered part time landscape gardener should recover in time for this weekend's clash with newly promoted Bay of Plenty who beat last year's champions Wellington in the opening weekend.

The Auckland side will include former all black lock Robin Brooke who replaces Bradley Mika after the New Zealand under-21 was injured in the weekend's 29-7 defeat of Southland.

The only other change is on the reserves' bench with Ali Williams coming in in place of Brooke.

The game will be a major test of Plenty's resolve against one of the competition's more fancied sides following their heroics last weekend.

Auckland caused consternation this week in their opponents' camp when they initially refused leave for two payers on loan from the Auckland RU, Dale Rasmussen and Jason Chandler, to play in the game.

But in the face of massive criticism of their stance the club backed down and the pair will take their place in bay's side.

The Auckland squad is: 15 Malili Muliaina 14 Joeli Vidiri 13 Eroni Clarke 12 Jeremy Stanley 11 Iliesa Tanivula 10 Carlos Spencer 9 Steve Devine 8 Samiu Vahafolau 7 Justin Collins 6 Xavier Rush (captain) 5 Robin Brooke 4 Charles Riechelmann 3 Christian Califano 2 Keven Mealamu 1 Nick White substitutes: 16 Justin Wilson 17 Amasio Valence 18 Kevin Senio 19 Stephen Bates 20 Ali Williams 21 Paul Thomson 22 James Christian.

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