Harbour adds backline muscle

By CHRIS RATTUE


North Harbour have added some defensive muscle to their midfield for tonight's must-win match against Otago at Albany.

Otago have also made backline adjustments, former Harbour wing Aisea Tuilevu getting his first start of an injury-plagued season and Shaun Webb returning at first five-eighths.

But it would take a radical personality shift for the Otago backs to pose much of a threat. It is their forwards who have had to carry the load.

Harbour coach Allan Pollock expects Otago to continue with a "narrow" game plan, so Andrew Mailei gets his chance. Luke McAlister shifts from second to first five-eighths in place of Tusi Pisi, who has a limited kicking game.

Rico Gear has been moved from wing to centre in place of Anthony Tuitavake, who has a slight ankle problem, with Rudi Wulf on the wing. The North Harbour pack is unchanged.

"The Otago forwards have taken over more and more through the season," Pollock said. "We're picking the team with the opposition in mind and Andrew is a powerful defensive force."

Otago are already out of the semifinal hunt and Harbour's season is effectively on the line tonight.

Pollock said: "This really is the sort of game you have to win. The credibility of the side is on the line. We've done nicely so far but anything other than a win here and you will go, 'What's different from previous years'."

On the face of it, the names in the Otago pack especially mean they should be in the hunt, although they are without injured lineout ace Simon Maling. But nothing has gelled for Otago, whose backs have contributed just five tries all season.

Otago's standout stanza was the forward-led comeback against Wellington, when they ground out an unlikely draw.

Apart from wins against lightweights Northland and Southland, Otago have been hammered by the top sides and are averaging just two tries a game compared with North Harbour's four.

Meanwhile there is still no resolution to Harbour flanker Craig Newby's bid to join Otago, and thus the Highlanders again, next season.

Newby wants to join his provincial and All Black team-mate Nick Evans in the south where the pair got their Super 12 breaks through the draft. A New Zealand Rugby Union rule prevents a province importing two All Blacks in one season.

The parties have signed an agreement they will not comment in public but it is understood that Newby, who is represented by Dunedin lawyer Warren Alcock, argues he was not a test player at the time he agreed to join Otago.

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