Harbour strengthened in front row

Tony Woodcock

North Harbour's semifinals bid gets a boost with the return of All Black loosehead prop Tony Woodcock for Saturday night's game against Taranaki at Albany.

Woodcock, an ever-present through the Lions and Tri-Nations series, has been training with Harbour for the past week.

The Harbour props, Tony Coughlan and Mike Noble, have done a fine job through the NPC, but Woodcock's solidity will be a significant bonus in the run-in to the semifinals.

"He adds value to our team, on and off the field," Harbour coach Allan Pollock said yesterday.

"Our scrums have been an important part of our game this season and will only take on more importance this week against Taranaki."

That is because Taranaki's front row of Gordon Slater, Andrew Hore and Tony Penn is among the best in the NPC. Harbour, lying fourth on 22 points, one ahead of Wellington, must win to keep their noses in the top four.

Taranaki, out of semifinal contention, will be without captain and lock Paul Tito, who broke a thumb in last weekend's loss to Otago, and fullback James Hilgendorf, who suffered a knee injury in the same game.

* Chiefs coach Ian Foster is unimpressed at halfback Kevin Senio's decision to move to Canterbury.

Senio was a certainty for selection in the Chiefs had he stayed at Bay of Plenty, and with Byron Kelleher would have given Foster a strong hand behind the scrum in the enlarged Super 14 next year.

"We don't enjoy losing anyone and it's disappointing a player has made a decision to go somewhere else, particularly when it appears that franchise is already well covered in that position. It doesn't make a lot of sense," Foster said.

Canterbury have established Super 12 player Jamie Nutbrown and promising New Zealand Colt Andy Ellis.

Foster will now watch the remainder of the NPC for a replacement.