Lesser lights shining brightest

By CHRIS LAIDLAW

In spite of the more pessimistic predictions, the NPC is turning out to be a real contest.

Some of the lesser lights, such as Southland, Counties Manukau and Northland, have seized on the weaknesses of their more vaunted opponents, a phenomenon that has created a mood of grim delight around the country.

The way Southland reduced last year's champions, Wellington, to a feeble-minded, argumentative rabble by sheer grit and consistency summed it all up rather neatly.

It reminded the neo-romantics of New Zealand rugby that there is no substitute for getting the mundane things right.

Each of the bottom-rated teams has, for instance, shown that the art of lineout throwing and catching is not rocket science after all.

In their turn, Southland, Counties Manukau, Northland, Taranaki and even Bay of Plenty have set about teaching the glamour boys a lesson in the application of the basics.

One only hopes that the lesson has not been lost on these teams, who bristle with professional credentials and mega-salaries, but who constantly flatter to deceive when it comes to delivering results week in and week out.

One of the problems faced by the top-rated teams is the strange reluctance of so many All Blacks to turn out for their core employers, the provincial unions, despite the fact that every one of those unions is paying through the nose to have them available.

The slow dribble of All Blacks back into their NPC teams has been little short of a disgrace.

Several of the uninjured have still to play for their province, something that, in salary terms alone, suggests it is hard to get a decent return on investment from so many of the stars.

Wellington, in particular, whose dependence on their stars is unhealthier than most, have been thoroughly messed about by the absence or the reluctance of players such as Jonah Lomu.

But the frailties of the big namers has had its compensations.

At this point, it is impossible to predict the top four with much more than lotto-like confidence.

The traffic jam is building up very nicely and the last few rounds promise to be thrillers.

North Harbour have suddenly decided to play like human beings rather than instinctive primates, and the results have been rewarding.

Northland, well coached and well led, are causing everyone else intense discomfort because they have managed to put together a side who know how to eliminate errors and how to force them among their opponents.

Taranaki, having started disastrously, are now beginning to impose their muscularity on opponents, and there are going to be some badly beaten-up teams at the hands of the cow-punchers before the semifinals.

The real bolter has been Counties Manakau, perennially the most unfashionable team in the competition but one which, thanks again to attention to detail and an eye for the opportunity, are now competing on even terms with the best.

Canterbury and Otago, who on paper should be running away with this competition, may yet have trouble staying in the top four.

That would certainly make life complicated for the All Black selectors who are going to be under the most intense pressure to pick on consistency, rather than promise, or reputation.

And that's no bad thing.