KEY POINTS:
Glory years: None.
2006 finish: 3rd (W7 L3). Def 56-21 by Otago in quarter-final.
Best result: 21-17 Ranfurly Shield victory over Christchurch.
Worst result: 21-56 home quarter-final defeat by Otago. An embarrassing display.
Dearly departed: Adrian Donald, Roger Dustow, Jonah Lomu, Mike Noble, Francis Stowers, Regan Tamihere, Rua Tipoki.
Holidaying in France: Luke McAlister, Tony Woodcock.
New kids on the block: Ben Afeaki, James Afoa, Sam Biddles, Thomas Chamberlain, Robert Colhoun, Daniel Devereaux, Luke Hamilton, Michael Harris, Richard Mayhew, Tom McCartney (loan-Auckland), Ken Pisi, Tua Saseve, Chris Smith.
Shooting star: Blues centre Anthony Tuitavake had an impressive Super 14 campaign that was capped by selection for the Junior All Blacks. Pre-season form suggests he'll be one of the standouts of the tournament.
Old stagers: Tuitavake might be just 25 but he's already racked up an impressive 59 caps for the province. Captain Nick Williams, centre Rudi Wulf and lock Greg Rawlinson have all played 30+ games for a side who are otherwise short on experience.
Coaches count: Wayne Pivac had success with Auckland and has begun his reign at Harbour with a new broom approach, sweeping away much of last year's squad. Pivac, who won the shield as coach of Auckland but never got to defend it, finds himself in the inverse position at the start of this season.
Quirks of the draw: Have dodged Auckland and Canterbury and should stick the shield away for the season if they can negotiate tricky early ties against Taranaki and Waikato. Home: Taranaki, Waikato, Manawatu, Bay of Plenty, Southland. Away: Northland, Counties-Manukau, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Otago. Not playing: Auckland, Canterbury, Tasman.
Scouting report
Pre-season shield jollies against Thames Valley and Horowhenua-Kapiti would have lifted spirits but a dour win at Counties-Manukau and defeat at Canterbury probably provide more of a gauge on how Pivac's young side are travelling. Goal-kicking has been about as convincing as Sean Fitzpatrick's new comb-over.
Prospects
"You'll never win anything with kids," football pundit Alan Hansen famously opined after Man United were beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa on the first day of the 1995-96 English football Premiership season. United, who that day fielded future internationals David Beckham (20), Gary Neville (20), Phil Neville (18) and Nicky Butt (20), went on to win the league and cup double. Harbour, who have 12 players aged 21 or under in their squad, might well take some consolation from that. But they probably shouldn't as, for the most part, Hansen was right. Harbour look to be well and truly in rebuilding mode. The best they could hope for looks to be holding on to the shield, and a top-eight finish.
Prediction: 6th. Favourable draw so shouldn't be pushed to make the playoffs.
