Harbour mix it up for last pool game

Jonah Lomu

A rejigged North Harbour backline with a mix of the raw and the famous will face Manawatu in their final national championship pool game at Albany tomorrow night.

Jonah Lomu has his first start on the left wing, after two appearances off the reserves bench. Regular right wing Vili Waqaseduadua has returned to Fiji for family reasons and misses this week's game.

Rudi Wulf, who has been on the left wing so far, moves to Waqaseduadua's regular right wing slot.

In other changes, promising fullback George Pisi has a rest, his place going to national sevens representative Zar Lawrence and James Rodley gives Junior Poluleuligaga a spell at halfback.

Rodley was lively when he replaced Poluleuligaga early in the win over Taranaki in round two of the Air New Zealand Cup.

In the pack, Roger Dustow gets a start at hooker in place of James Hinchco, and Ryan Wilson comes in at lock with Anthony Boric moving to blindside flanker.

Harbour are second in pool A of the cup, are certain of a place in the top six playoffs starting next week, but cannot peg back Auckland for top spot and the guaranteed two home games.

Manawatu have improved since the grim early days of the competition, and have given Taranaki and Wellington tough battles, but have only a bonus point to show for their efforts and will finish bottom of the pool irrespective of tomorrow night's result.

Manawatu's team will be named today.