15 v 51 
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While other victories have been less convincing, Saturday’s six-tries-to-two win ensured the visitors ended their week with three straight victories within seven days.
It’s a sign of a quality team when you can win matches despite playing your best rugby. There’s another sign when you’ve saved the best until last.
They played attacking rugby for the first three quarters of the match before Piri Weepu and Orene Ai’i elected to kick any other penalties to allow his forwards to rest from their hectic schedule.
Taranaki were disappointing in the final 30 minutes as they resorted to playing catch-up rugby rather than the patient, forwards-based attack they had utilised well.
The hosts’ woes were hammered home when Rick McKenna’s cut-out pass was intercepted by Saleaula Silipa to push Auckland’s score towards 50 points.
Auckland continued to hammer Taranaki’s defence and while weren’t able to score a seventh try they kicked past the milestone through 33-year-old former Sevens star Ai’i.
The bonus point gives Auckland top spot temporarily with 23 points, while Taranaki remain at the foot of the Premiership with a game in hand.
Auckland got off to a good start when captain Hadleigh Parkes scored in the first three minutes. Signs of a landslide victory looked unfounded, though, as Taranaki fought stoically for the remainder of the half.
The hosts were rewarded with a try of their own to James Broadhurst and had a 10-7 lead after the opening first quarter. From there, however, Auckland were always in control when Lolagi Visinia scored the first of his two tries and they took a 21-10 lead into the half-time break.
Taranaki’s resistance proved fruitful when they were the first team to score in the second half through Rhys Marshall. A clever lineout move saw the hooker score his maiden try for Taranaki and the gap was reduced to six.
But from there the half belonged to Auckland as they scored 30 points that included two tries and penalties to Simon Hickey, Weepu and Ai’i.
What will please Auckland coach Wayne Pivac was the form of centre pairing Parkes and Malakai Fekitoa, who ran the Taranaki defence ragged. The former scored the visitor’s first try while Fekitoa scored a remarkable 70 metre try to extend the hosts’ lead to the team’s last to seal the 36-point win.
Auckland’s locking combination of Liaki Moli and Patrick Tuipulotu also had a chance to stretch their legs and cause trouble on attack.
Taranaki skipper Kane Barrett did what he could and led his side superbly around the park, while fullback Kurt Baker was unlucky to be denied a try through a forward pass one interchange earlier.
Class is dictated by how sides prepare for matches despite the short turnarounds. For Auckland, the 36-point win proved their critics wrong and illustrated their potential after nailing their third win in seven days.
For Taranaki, a side who had a week to prepare for the match, the result leaves Cooper scratching his head and looking to develop his side quickly ahead of hosting Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday.
Auckland, meanwhile, travel to Hamilton to play Waikato next Saturday.
Referee Chris Pollock dictated proceedings well, allowing loyal Taranaki supporters to witness an entertaining match regardless of the disappointing result.
Taranaki 15 (James Broadhurst, Rhys Marshall tries; Daniel Brooks con, pen)
Auckland 51 (Lolagi Visinia 2, Hadleigh Parkes, Vince Aso, Malakai Fekitoa, Saleaula Silipa tries; Simon Hickey 4 con, pen, Piri Weepu 2 con, pen, Orene Ai’i pen)
HT: 10-21
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