RUGBY - Striding from cheap seats into limelight

Steve Baker remembers sitting on the cheap seats at Northland rugby headquarters watching David Holwell and Justin Collins tearing around the place winning the second division provincial title.
At the time, he was a student at Whangarei Boys' High School who was mad keen on his rugby, and divided his time between training to play for the school and organising the obligatory game of rugby during the lunch break.
Things have suddenly got a lot more serious than that.
Baker, the 25-year-old Kamo lock, will make his starting debut for Northland tomorrow against Auckland, the current leaders of the Air NZ Cup provincial competition.
It is a big step for the 115kg lock who never contemplated playing alongside the likes of Holwell when he was mixing it with the lads on the terraces a few years ago.
But his selection will make his decision to move north from the Waikato to chase a representative rugby dream all the more worthwhile.
"I have been sitting on the bench all this time so it is a relief almost to finally get some serious game time," Baker said.
"It was a decision to either stay in Waikato and become a fulltime personal trainer or move back home, give rugby a crack and get into the family business instead. So it seems to have paid off . For now anyway," he said.
"I don't know how old I was when Northland was going quite well at the top of second division. It was always quite cool to go down the park and see the boys beat the Central Vikings two weeks in a row to make the first division.
"Watching guys like Norm Maxwell, Justin Collins and David Holwell running around there. It makes you think a bit, Holwell has been around a while then, hasn't he?"
Baker comes in for Dan Goodwin, who was ruled out with a badly wrenched ankle, and is the only change to the forward pack.
Jake Paringatai has recovered from a shoulder strain to take his place at No.8 tomorrow, Joel McKenty has shaken off a bruised calf to grab his No.7 jersey and prop Bronson Murray is back to full fitness as well.
There is a significant switch at fullback, though. Hayden Taylor was forced to retire yesterday with a neck complaint, so Rene Ranger has been handed the No.15 jersey on return from a three-week injury stand-down.
It is a significant gamble, especially against Auckland who will undoubtedly spot Ranger loitering at the back and be keen to test his ability under the high ball.
But even Northland coach Mark Anscombe was ready to admit that the result tomorrow is not all that crucial. By removing the expectation of victory, Anscombe reckons anything could happen.
"You might say that if we were to say we are going to to win, it we would be mad, but sillier things have happened. It's at home, we have got to believe in ourselves, play our game and get from the game what we want out from it," Anscombe said.
"There's a few guys here that have played for Auckland so they know what to expect. They know how Auckland treat these games and have given the boys the heads up. Northland has beaten them before. There's no reason why that can't happen," he said.
Auckland arrive with attacking threats all over the paddock. Winger David Smith is an obvious threat, No.8 Brad Mika will be a difficult customer in the tight and Daniel Braid's form at openside flanker is imposing.
Those attacking weapons explain some dire pre-match predictions. The bookies are giving Auckland a 30-point start.