Rugby: North Shore down on personnel for season opener

North Shore coach Frano Botica. Photo / Lynda Feringa

A messy start to the season is in the offing for defending premiers North Shore as North Harbour club rugby kicks off today.

North Shore, about to turn 142, is the oldest club in the region, and won the 2014 championship in fine style from Massey.

But a combination of bad injury luck and the Hong Kong 10s this weekend means coach Frano Botica, one of six All Blacks out of North Shore, will not have anything like his best line-up for several rounds.

Captain and North Harbour rep Josh Blucher and first five Willie Walker are in Hong Kong, while halfback Luke Hamilton and lock/flanker Brandon Nansen are several weeks away from suiting up again.

Despite this, Botica says he has most of his group back from 2014, a good platform to work from given these transient times for club players.

Northland rep Whiria Meltzer will add a new dimension from fullback.

"We call him 'Whiz' because he is fast," quipped Botica.

Walker will be an asset once he is back next week: "He's still the best No 10 Harbour has got," said Botica pointedly of the 36-year-old veteran.

"Our goal is to win it again, but we're not complacent. We understand that everyone is getting better and will lift their games," said Botica, adding that North Shore will seek a solid platform in the nine-week first round.

North Shore today faces Silverdale, somewhat of a bogey side for the champions. They have a new coach in Daniel Takarangi, fresh from taking Glenfield in 2014. In turn, Walter Little is going back to take the reins at his beloved Glenfield.

Elsewhere, East Coast Bays host Marist, who have former North Harbour hooker Joe Ward as the new coach, while the Western Pioneers-Takapuna clash should be a tight one.

Former Manu Samoa halfback Tu Nu'uali'itia has taken charge of Western. Blair Urlich, who helped with the Westlake BHS First XV last season, will coach Takapuna.

There are no bonus points for the first round Buck Shelford Shield, so it will be just four for the win, two for the draw and zero for the loss. Points will, however, be carried through to the second round, which will again be the top eight.

• Papatoetoe host Waitemata in today's Waka Nathan Challenge Cup final in Auckland, while in the second tier Pollard Cup, East Tamaki host Eden.