Chris Rattue: Rua back on track?

North Harbour coach Allan Pollock has pulled a classic poacher-turned-gamekeeper act in naming Rua Tipoki as his captain. Tipoki certainly has some talent and there are few better steppers. But off- and on-field notoriety has dogged Tipoki's career. He had a fine season on loan to Bay of Plenty in 2004, starting every NPC match, so appears to have his career on track. Time will tell ...

Anton not happy

Anton Oliver's humour won't have been helped after missing the initial Otago NPC squad because of his lingering leg injury. Oliver is one of rugby's rare philosophers. But the word is he was absolutely livid about the original injury misdiagnosis which set back his rehabilitation.

Off and on Rupeni

Has there ever been a greater waste of rugby talent than Rupeni Caucaunibuca? He has thrilled the crowd like no other, yet could have achieved so much more with a dedicated attitude. The former Northland and Blues wing has caused Fiji endless problems since he was ruled ineligible for the All Blacks. Caucau's latest excuse for missing a Fijian match - his wife had a toothache. Coach Wayne Pivac reported earlier that Caucaunibuca turned up at Suva airport, collected his pay and gear, then disappeared before the team left for Apia.

Mils in tight spot

All sympathy to Auckland and the Blues should they lose Mils Muliaina. The All Black has clearly been in an awkward position since his girlfriend pleaded guilty to fraud charges relating to her time as the Auckland Rugby Union's events manager. Under normal circumstances, Auckland would be slated for losing a player of Muliaina's class. But in this case, events have been beyond the union's control. Even if football reasons contributed to his decision to join Waikato, as Muliaina's manager claims, the fraud scandal undoubtedly played a pivotal part in leading him to look elsewhere.