BOP not phased by Harbour backline

4.00pm

North Harbour's star-studded backline holds few fears for Bay of Plenty rugby player Grant McQuoid.

The star second five-eighth was back to his best against Southland on Saturday, putting midfield partner Rua Tipoki over for two tries and scoring one himself as the final whistle sounded.

His NPC form should warrant a Super 12 contract next year, but staring him in the face on Sunday is a dangerous North Harbour back division.

All Black Rico Gear, his brother Hosea, sevens supremos Rudi Wulf and Anthony Tuitavake and rising star Luke McAlister can all turn a game on its head with their dazzling skills.

That doesn't faze McQuoid, who has the utmost faith in his teammates heading into Sunday's critical match in Albany.

"They're probably the best backline in the NPC I've seen this year but I think we're pretty good too," McQuoid said.

"We've got some good players and we can match anyone on our day. Whoever gets dominance in the forwards might win that one."

The importance of Sunday's game cannot be overstated.

Bay of Plenty's season is teetering between "historic" and "outstanding" and a win over North Harbour and subsequent semifinal spot would be fitting reward for the players.

There must be improvement shown on the effort against Southland, however, when a spate of over-eagerness in the backs cost the home side a hatful of points in the first half in Rotorua.

McQuoid described it simply as "not finishing stuff and dropping stuff" but was confident they'd be running "in harmony" by this weekend.

"We did sort it out a bit in the second half. We're better than that.

"We've got higher standards. I expect a lot of the boys and of myself."

Bay of Plenty's season has been painted variously as a "fairytale" and the players have become the "darlings" of New Zealand rugby.

And they've won another fan in Southland skipper Clarke Dermody, who admitted his side would be cheering the Bay on despite losing Saturday's match.

"We'll be going for Bay because they're the smaller of the two unions but they're both non-Super 12 franchises," Dermody said. "It's just great for New Zealand rugby when the smaller guys are knocking off the big guys."

Dermody believed Bay's biggest asset at this stage of the season was that they keep on winning -- Saturday's victory was their fourth in a row, a feat the union hasn't been achieved in the first division since 1987.

On the injury front, North Harbour have been relatively blessed, especially compared with Bay's wounded troops.

Bay loosehead props Taufa'ao Filise and Simms Davison are both still battling knee injuries, while halfback Ruki Tipuna's shoulder is still tender.

McQuoid believes the string of disruptions -- including the season-ending injuries to Aleki Lutui, Jeff Ierome and especially Kevin Senio -- has been tough to absorb.

"They're good players who have been injured.

"It is unsettling to a certain extent but we've got to be experienced enough and professional enough to get over that sort of thing."

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES

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