Harbour wary of replay

Lock Kurtis Haiu made a significant difference when he came on at halftime against Wellington. Picture / Kenny Rodger

North Harbour will be on guard to ensure history does not repeat when they face their biggest national championship test at Eden Park tonight.

Last October, they tackled Auckland on the same ground in the NPC semifinal, and were blown away in the first half hour, tumbling to a 38-24 loss.

They expect Auckland, coming off a poor 14-11 loss to Wellington last weekend, to be breathing fire when they emerge from the tunnel.

Eight of Harbour's starting XV from the semifinal front up again tonight.

"Those guys went through the first 40 minutes last season when they were physically intimidated by Auckland," Harbour coach Allan Pollock said.

"I would be surprised if Auckland didn't try that full-on approach in this game. So we've got those guys talking to our younger players telling them this is unlike any game they've been in in their career."

But Harbour are not a complete bunch of greenhorns.

They are led by Rua Tipoki, who is approaching 70 championship games. He has not been known to take a backward step, is sure to lead a committed defensive operation and orchestrate perhaps the quickest backline group in the Air New Zealand Cup.

"We've got to be really aggressive in the tackle," Tipoki said. "They gave us a couple of hidings last year and it was because they got really quick go forward ball."

So, stop the speed of movement, induce a measure of indecision, which Auckland displayed at times against both Bay of Plenty and Wellington in their last two games, and they're in the hunt.

Harbour, the only unbeaten team in pool A, should have a good thread of confidence running through them. Their backs are entertainers with plenty of speed. The pack has generally held up well and they have first choice tighthead prop Mike Noble back from his three-week suspension.

Auckland coach Pat Lam isn't remotely surprised Harbour have kicked on from making the semifinals last year, even with 10 players gone from that campaign.

"They're a dangerous team. They make a lot of things out of nothing. They have gamebreakers in their side, so it's important our defence is up to it this week," Lam added.

However, he has every right to expect his players to pick themselves up for the challenge tonight. Much work has gone into the lineouts, which were a mess last week, Lam emphasising the need for attention to detail.

Lock Kurtis Haiu made a significant difference when he came on at halftime against Wellington and in the absence of All Black Ali Williams assumes a key role for Auckland tonight.

Auckland, as defending champions, will start favourites. They've won 17 of 23 championship matches against Harbour. But this one should be tight.

* Counties Manukau have picked up Wellington lock Ross Kennedy on loan for the rest of the cup.

He is on the bench for the visit of Southland on Sunday. With the word out that Bay of Plenty are likely to lose key lock Bernie Upton to Wellington next year, Kennedy might be eyeing his chances of nabbing Upton's spot in the Chiefs for next year's Super 14.

* Waikato coach Warren Gatland has rejigged his loose forward trio for their trip to Hawkes Bay. Captain Steven Bates is on the bench, with Steven Setephano starting at blindside flanker and versatile Liam Messam moving to No 7.

Promising William Ripia starts in place of Stephen Donald at first five-eighths, and Jono Gibbes takes over the captaincy.

* Bay of Plenty have relegated promising flanker Tanerau Latimer to the bench for their trip to Blenheim to face Tasman tomorrow. His place has gone to Nili Latu.

Tasman have bracketed key playmaker Ben Gollings with Tim Taylor. Former England Sevens star Gollings injured his hip early in last week's loss to Taranaki and is only a 50-50 chance to be fit.