Rugby: Log's lure adds to challenge for Harbour coach

Hooker James Parsons. Photo / Jason Dorday

Steve Jackson knows what it's like to go to McLean Park and win the Ranfurly Shield.

Two years almost to the day ago, he was there as Counties Manukau assistant coach when the Steelers won the Log o' Wood for the first time.

Now he takes his North Harbour squad back to the same venue as rank underdogs against the in-form holders and ITM Cup Championship front-running Hawkes Bay Magpies.

"It is something special ... I told the guys this Log o' Wood has been around for a long time and it's a prized possession in New Zealand rugby," he said.

"But we want to focus on winning the ITM Cup Championship points. There's a bit of a prize at the end of it, and there's a lot of guys who have never challenged or held it."

Indeed, in 2007, hooker James Parsons played his first game for the union two weeks after North Harbour was stripped of the Shield by Waikato, 52-7, the biggest winning margin by a challenger in history.

Jackson has given a first start to 18-year-old former NZ Schools No 8 Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a, a strong ball carrier, who will mark Magpies captain Brendon O'Connor, who will be playing his 100th first-class match.

Hawkes Bay have gained the maximum 15 points from their opening three matches and will have Israel Dagg at fullback with a point to prove.

But they will not have wing Zac Guildford, who is suspended for four games for a tip tackle on the Steelers' Cardiff Vaega in his last outing.

"They are the in-form team, probably out of both competitions," said Jackson. "They are a well-balanced and well-drilled side. We need to stick to our structures and it's going to take 80 minutes."

North Harbour has a 1-2 record, but they won a last-gasp 26-25 victory against Southland thanks to a dogged second half and the goalkicking of Australian No 10 Daniel Halangahu. But the first spell was dire, marked by some soft defence up the middle. Some stern words by Jackson in the sheds did the trick, at least as far as attitude, if not execution.

"We desperately needed the win and there was desperation in that last 40. Sometimes you have to play with that. Some players let themselves and their teammates down in that first 40 minutes."

ITM Cup

Hawke's Bay v North Harbour
McLean Park, Napier, 7.45 tonight
North Harbour:
Matt McGahan, Nafi Tuitavake, Matt Vaega, Michael Little, Tevita Li, Daniel Halangahu, Bryn Hall (c), Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a, James Doyle, Chris Vui, Hayden Triggs, Gerard Tuioti-Mariner, Sione Mafileo, James Parsons, Nic Mayhew;
Reserves: Ray Niuia, Adrian Smith, Alex Woonton, Jordan Manihera, Josh Blucher, David Bason, Josh Rowland, Junior Tofa-Va'a