Harbour's outstanding home run goes on line

By WYNNE GRAY

North Harbour are not into temptation.

But they do not want their impressive home record to go unnoticed.

While they are reluctant to rave about their NPC results, they are keen to add to a home record which shows them unbeaten in a two-year, nine-game streak.

Harbour have nobbled Super 12 heavyweights Waikato and Auckland at home this season, and tonight they take on the most formidable frontrunning invaders, Canterbury.

The visitors could have used all eight of their returning All Blacks - coach Steve Hansen reckoned they were all keen. But they chose only Justin Marshall and Reuben Thorne because they were able to attend training this week.

If Harbour have a record they want to continue, Canterbury have standards they want to maintain after thrashing newcomers Bay of Plenty in the last round.

"Our ideas are all about playing better in each game than we did the match before, asking individuals to perform better each time," Hansen said.

"If we do that, ask losts of questions of the opposition but get knocked over, then we will congratulate them."

One of the Canterbury men under the microscope is former All Black Scott Robertson.

After most of his rugby life as a flanker, Robertson is turning his talents to No 8 this season, though he will not be able to compare his work tonight with incumbent but resting All Black No 8 Ron Cribb.

"There is no question he has the continuity skills," Hansen said of Robertson, "and he is growing into the job. He succumbed to my reasoning and is loving the job.

"He is versatile, big, fast, strong and skilled, and it also allows us to use [NZ Colts captain] Richard McCaw, who is an out-and-out opensider."

Canterbury arrive with strength throughout their squad.

Their tight five are well-qualified, their loosies inventive, and even without co-captain Daryl Gibson, the backline will be very dangerous.

Last round, in shocking conditions, Harbour stood up to Auckland from the front to the back.

In the young front row, loosehead prop Tony Woodcock competed well against experienced Frenchman Christian Califano, the scrum held and Harbour's confidence grew.

"We were solid and we were pleased with that because Auckland were handy," Woodcock said.

"Our scrum has hardened up after the first game and it is all a big buzz because there is so much pressure at this level."

Woodcock is only 20, fresh into NPC this season, a New Zealand Colt, Helensville born and bred - the sort of local frontrow talent Harbour have been looking to groom for years.

For Harbour original and coach Wayne Shelford, the progress this season has been encouraging. There has been a harder attitude in the squad.

All those attributes will be needed tonight if Harbour are to continue their two-season home run. They would also like the wet weather to relent.

"Hopefully, the ground stays a bit firmer this week so we can play good running rugby. If we can compete well in all phases - scrum, lineout, ruck and maul - we'll do pretty well," Shelford said.

* Imported lock Mark Giacheri will play his final game before heading off to his next contract in English rugby, and with Troy Flavell about to have knee surgery this week, Harbour have signed Van Humphries, one of the Waratahs' extended squad.

The 24-year-old Humphries is 2.02m, 116kg and was part of the extended Reds squad before signing for Bob Dwyer's Super 12 group.