Easy win for Auckland

Defending champions Auckland are on the board in the NPC. Three tries in 10 first-half minutes set them on their way to a 43-10 win over Northland in Whangarei last night, their first of the season. Northland Events Centre was the setting for the opening match of the second round of the Mitre 10 Cup, but the home side found itself out of the running within 20 minutes. As the clock ticked past 10, they were ahead 3-0, but by the time it hit 20, they were down 21-3 and 24-3 by halftime. Auckland 43 (Jack Whetton, Caleb Clarke, Jamie Lane, AJ Lam, Tanielu Tele’a, TJ Faiane tries; D’Angelo Leuila 4 con, pen, Daniel Kirkpatrick con) Northland 10 (Pisi Leilua try, Jack Debreczeni pen, con). HT: 24-3 Australian legend David Campese expressed his disappointment at being overlooked for the NSW Waratahs coaching position. Campese felt it was his time to step up and take over from Daryl Gibson, who quit in June after four years as Waratahs head coach. But the Wallabies’ all-time leading try-scorer and 1991 World Cup winner took to Facebook to reveal that he had been ruled out as a candidate. ‘‘Their reason: I don’t have enough experience as a head coach,’’ Campese wrote. The opening day of the second Ashes test at Lord’s was abandoned because of rain, although it eased just long enough for England fast bowler Jofra Archer to receive his test cap in a ceremony in the middle of the field. That indicated Archer will make his test debut when play gets under way, replacing the injured James Anderson. Australia were set to make at least one change to their fast bowling attack with James Pattinson rested and Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood brought into the squad.