Harbour's pack lack support from the backline

By CHRIS RATTUE

North Harbour were not totally surprising when they formed a series of rolling mauls and ignored their backs in a vain pursuit of victory against Wellington.

The former razzle-dazzle merchants of New Zealand rugby are struggling to find any penetration away from their respectable pack, and already look like also-rans in the NPC this year.

This must be doubly disappointing for Harbour and their supporters, after they finished second in last year's round robin using a game based around the best defensive record in the competition.

Harbour conceded just 149 points in 10 games last year, but have already given up 124 in four this time and are struggling to score the points to make up for defensive lapses, averaging just 13 points against Waikato, Auckland and Wellington.

One of the team's problems will be staring them in the face at Albany this afternoon, when they face Otago.

Their best wing of recent years, Aisea Tuilevu, will line up in southern colours at North Harbour Stadium. Otago also have another former Harbour player in their squad - utility Willie Walker, who is out for a month through injury.

North Harbour are stuck in a boom-and-bust cycle because they have been unable to hold players and build teams.

Of the 38 players they used in 2000, only 10 remain and only two of them are backs: halfback and captain Mark Robinson and centre Scott Adams.

While a forward pack including Tony Woodcock, Slade McFarland, Troy Flavell, Blair Urlich, Matua Parkinson and Craig Newby will win respect, North Harbour ran up the white flag in the backs against Wellington last Saturday.

Two years ago, the Harbour backline sprouted flair with Karl Te Nana, Tuilevu, Eric Rush, Rua Tipoki, Walter Little, Marc Ellis, Walker and Robinson available.

Last year, when they made the semifinals, Rico Gear was a vital addition and the experience of Mark Mayerhofler and Frano Botica was back in town.

Injuries have not helped, with Te Nana and Gear sidelined, but the union has leaked quality backs for a variety of reasons and it is hurting Russell Jones' side.

This is also placing undue pressure on teenage first five-eighths Luke McAlister, who scampered around behind the forward exchanges against Wellington trying to work out his best options.

There is a touch of the Carlos Spencer to McAlister, although it would be unfair to draw too many comparisons just yet between the 19-year-old and the Aucklander - maybe the most talented ball-player of his generation.

Spencer was fortunate in falling into a great Auckland side but even he struggled when the experienced players departed.

Now the older creative heads of Spencer and Lee Stensness form a double pivot act for Auckland, with fullback Spencer often injecting himself into games as the first receiver with great results.

McAlister would be helped by such a figure to give Harbour more options, but for now he must cut his teeth the hard way.

Otago are hardly setting the competition alight either, but have tried to increase the flair factor by starting 23-year-old Fijian Seru Rabeni on the wing.

North Harbour: Nick Evans, Rodd Penney, Brad Miller, Mark Mayerhofler, Hayden Reid, Luke McAlister, Mark Robinson (capt); Blair Urlich, Craig Newby, Troy Flavell, Mark Giacheri, Matt Lord, Tevita Taumoepeau, Slade McFarland, Tony Woodcock. Res: Joe Ward, John Buchanan, Andrew Gallagher, Matua Parkinson; Billy Fulton, Tim Walsh, Anthony Tuitavake.

Otago: Neil Brew, Aisea Tuilevu, Ryan Nicholas, Seilala Mapusua, Seru Rabeni, Blair Feeney, Byron Kelleher; Taine Randell (capt), Josh Blackie, Kelvin Middleton, Simon Maling, Filipo Levi, Carl Hayman, Nick Fisher, Carl Hoeft. Res: Jason MacDonald, Joe Mcdonnell, Peter Bowden, Sam Harding; Danny Lee, Sam Young, Romi Ropati.

Referee: Kelvin Deaker (Hawkes Bay). Kickoff: 2.35pm.