Rugby: Pressure on as Taniwha toil

Michael Stolberg had a creditable outing in his blazer game against Manawatu last weekend. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Pressure is mounting for the Taniwha.

An outside chance versus Counties Manakau tomorrow night, if the hurdle of Tana Umaga's ailing Steelers side cannot be leaped then the Toll Stadium barracks won't stand much of a chance against an in-form Bay of Plenty side next Friday.

Spending the better part of this week knuckling down on key work-ons, Northland head coach Richie Harris said it had been a bit of an eye opener.

"We've tidied up some inaccuracies, just looking at people being accurate and finishing their jobs," Harris said.

A heavy defensive session yesterday put the Taniwha through rigorous tackling drills to help reiterate their various roles and responsibilities around the defensive channels.

With clarity, or a lack of it, on defence being a costly slip-up against Manawatu last weekend, Harris said much emphasis had been placed on ensuring each member understood his duties - the younger players, as well as the old heads who had let their performance slip.

A minor blessing for Northland comes in the form of Counties Manukau's captain Jimmy Tupou being suspended after performing a dangerous charge into a ruck against North Harbour last weekend.

The flanker entered a guilty plea to the charge which stemmed from an incident in the 32nd minute.

Tupou is a key leader in the Counties squad and Harris believed his absence would ease a bit of the pressure on the Taniwha.

"I think they've got a few wise heads there but ITM Cup stats say he's won the most ball," Harris said of Tupou's threat at lineout time.

With Northland's playing 23 set to be confirmed tomorrow, Harris said the Taniwha would welcome back the services of prop Matt Talaese on the completion of his three-week suspension for a dangerous-charging incident versus Southland.

Also making a comeback in the Cambridge-blue jersey, Kurt Davies returns after suffering a fractured hand a few weeks ago and outside back Waisea Lawbuka is also good to go after having been struck by a lower-calf injury.