Harbour get All Black inspiration

Luke McAlister

North Harbour have their All Black back for tomorrow night's trip to Carisbrook - but their hosts don't.

First five-eighths Luke McAlister, fresh from his booming goalkicking display off the bench in the Tri-Nations title-clinching win over Australia at Eden Park, returns to steer the young Harbour side against Otago.

But not only have Otago lost captain Craig Newby to a head injury, they are also without All Black lock James Ryan.

The big redhead has been stood down due to an All Black management request, and will not return until next week's match against Northland in Whangarei.

Otago coach Wayne Graham was philosophical about the absence of a key member of his pack - he doesn't get tighthead strongman Carl Hayman back until round eight against Canterbury at the start of next month - but coming off their surprise late loss to Southland last weekend, would like to have had him available.

McAlister, whose three long-range penalties midway through the second half carried the All Blacks clear after Australia had fought back to 20-19 in the test, links up with fast-improving halfback Junior Poluleuligaga.

Poluleuligaga missed last weekend's 50-point romp against Northland with a calf strain. The pair were good value last time out, in the 29-16 win over Wellington in round two and captain Rua Tipoki is looking forward to that partnership moving up a step.

"Our kicking's been a real issue while Luke has been away.

"I know his vision and accuracy will make a big difference," Tipoki said.

Tipoki believes Poluleuligaga, who has impressed running from the base of ruck and scrum for Harbour, can benefit from McAlister's presence.

"With Luke outside him, that creates a little bit of space for Junior.

"Because defences are so focused on Luke, it opens up a bit of a channel and Junior can exploit that well," Tipoki added.

Normal transmission resumes for Harbour with the first-choice pack back after coach Allan Pollock gave his back-up players a run in several positions against Northland. Despite the winning margin, the quality was up and down.

So Pollock has brought his first-choice front row, lock and loose-forward combinations back as Harbour aim to build on an encouraging run of two wins and a draw since the opening-round loss to Auckland.

Experienced centre Neil Brew captains Otago in Newby's absence. Their season is delicately balanced - two wins, two losses - and Graham expects them to bounce back from the loss in Invercargill.

"They were very disappointed. It was a game we should have won, but missed a couple of chances and let it slip," he added.

Former All Black hooker Anton Oliver makes his return to action in the provinces' B clash tomorrow. Oliver has been sidelined since May 11, when he suffered a badly torn calf playing for the Highlanders against the Crusaders in Dunedin.

He is expected to play about 20 minutes tomorrow night. Just when he might be ready to return to the NPC would depend how he scrubs up in the following days, Graham said, with the Taranaki game on September 24 a best-case scenario. Graham's hope is to have his best front row - Oliver, Hayman and the departing former All Black Carl Hoeft together for the final couple of rounds.

* Lock Scott Breman plays his 50th match for Taranaki when they host Southland on Sunday.

* North Harbour v Otago, Carisbrook, 7.35pm tomorrow

Otago

Glen Horton
Mike Maguire
Neil Brew (c)
Seilala Mapusua
Saunders/Pedersen
Nick Evans
Chris Smylie
Grant Webb
Josh Blackie
Alando Soakai
Tom Donnelly
Filipo Levi
Chris King
Jason Macdonald
Carl Hoeft

North Harbour

George Pisi
V. Waqaseduadua
A. Tuitavake
Rua Tipoki (c)
Zar Lawrence
Luke McAlister
Junior Poluleuligaga
Nick Williams
Tom Harding
Brent Wilson
Greg Rawlinson
Marty Veale
Mike Noble
Joe Ward
Tony Coughlan

Reserves:

Otago: Peter Mirrielees, Jeremy Aldworth, Adam Thomson, Andrew McClintock, Danny Lee, Ryan Bambry, Jason Shoemark/Pedersen

North Harbour: Roger Dustow, Adrian Donald, Antony Boric, Rodney Voullaire, Craig McGrath, Joel Nasmith, Andrew Mailei