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Braid back in blue

Daniel Braid doesn't think twice when asked why he's come home after two years in Brisbane.

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

Sportal.co.nz

Daniel Braid doesn't think twice when asked why he's come home after two years in Brisbane.

"I want to have a go at the All Blacks and the World Cup," Braid said. "I also came home to start a family and sort out options after rugby."

The Tauranga-born openside flanker made his debut for New Zealand in 2002, aged 21, and has been plying his trade as the Queensland Reds' marquee player for the last two seasons.

A more mature Braid has impressed under the new law interpretations, with his support play a particular feature.

The 29-year-old was enticed home by the New Zealand Rugby Union and has had some correspondence with the three wise men.

"I've had a little bit of feedback," the 2007 New Zealand Player of the Year revealed. "[They said] play well in the NPC and push for a place on the end of year tour.

"They don't have a back up [to Richie McCaw] in this Tri Nations squad. The end of year tour and World Cup squads will be bigger, so I really want to put my hand up for that position."

Braid was the main feature of Auckland's 26-man ITM Cup squad that was unveiled on Monday.

New Zealand's largest province has been disappointing - a grave understatement – over the last two seasons, finishing 11th in 2008 and fifth in 2009. Braid points to a 15-player exodus in 2007 as a contributing factor to the poor form, but putting respectability and 'old' standards back in the jersey is a priority, Braid says.

"I went to school in Auckland and I played for Auckland secondary out of school. It's the team I love," he said.

"I've had some really, really great times, so it's great to come back and have guys like Wardy [Brent Ward] and Benny [Ben Atiga] as well."

Auckland coach Mark Anscombe said All Black Isaia Toeava would not recover from his hip surgery until September while Ali Williams would take no part this season.

If Auckland is to be successful, its experienced Otago halves pairing of Toby Morland and former Hawke's Bay first five-eighths Matthew Berquist will have to fire.

Morland has returned from a six-month stint with Irish club Munster. He fills the void left by Taniela Moa, who has since departed after' that' intercept pass against the Waratahs this year.

"I went to university in Dunedin with Berquist and we played age group rugby together, so it's good to be reuniting with him," Morland said.

"We're good friends off the field which helps. We talk a lot of tactics just in everyday chit-chat."

Adjusting to Auckland had been 'interesting' for the Blenheim boy who spent eight years in Dunedin.

"The change in weather is bloody interesting," he said. "I'm used to the cold frosts of Dunedin. The coldest we get here is four degrees and everyone complains. I'm wandering around in a t-shirt – it's great."

Auckland, who also named seven new comers, plays Northland at Farmlands Park, Dargaville on Wednesday (kick-off 3.30pm) in its final pre-season hit-out before its first match of the season against North Harbour on August 1 (kick-off 2.35pm).

Squad:

Halani Aulika (Otahuhu)*, Ben Atiga (Ponsonby), Onosa'i Auva'a (Grammar-Carlton), Matt Berquist (College Rifles)*, Daniel Braid (University), Ash Dixon (University)*, Charlie Faumuina (Otahuhu), Kurtis Haiu (Marist), Brenton Helleur (University), Jamie Helleur (University), Chris Lowrey (Ponsonby), Tevita Mailau (Otahuhu), Pauliasi Manu (University), Tom McCartney (Pakuranga), Ash Moeke (Grammar-Carlton), Liaki Moli (Manukau)*, Toby Morland (College Rifles)*, Atieli Pakalani (Grammar-Carlton), Charles Piutau (Pakuranga)*, Sean Polwart (University)*, Chay Raui (Ponsonby), Peter Saili (Marist), Winston Stanley (Ponsonby), Dave Thomas (Grammar-Carlton), Andrew Van der Heijden (University), Brent Ward (University)

*new faces

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