Lock with 6 appeal

Anthony Boric fends off Brent Ward of Auckland during the battle of the bridge last weekend. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Talk about a bumpy landing.

When North Harbour jogged onto Eden Park last Friday they had big hopes of maintaining their 100 per cent winning record - and pressing on to finish top of their pool.

About 90 minutes later, on the wrong end of a 23-3 scoreline, they had plenty to chew over.

"We dissected it early in the week and learnt a lot," impressive lock-cum-blindside flanker Anthony Boric said yesterday. "There were a few issues we looked at."

One of the upshots of that experience - combined with the selection of the team for tonight's Air New Zealand Cup game against Manawatu - should be to remove any hint of complacency.

Throw in a competitive effort by Manawatu against Wellington last weekend, and the visitors will be accorded plenty of respect at Albany tonight.

"We saw how they played last week. They were really competitive. Coming off our loss, we're out to prove ourselves and put the season back on track, so we should have no trouble getting up for this," Boric added.

His development as a footballer continues. He was picked for the Blues in this year's Super 14 and although he got only three starts, the 2m-tall 22-year-old is making significant strides.

When regular skipper Rua Tipoki was sidelined in the first couple of weeks as his 16-week ban came to an end, coach Allan Pollock turned to Boric to lead his team.

Boric reckoned he was a touch apprehensive early on but came to enjoy the experience, and the chance to do more analysis of opponents.

Whether he'll finish up long term as a lock or flanker remains to be seen. Boric is happy to do what's best for the team and acknowledged there is a positive element about being able to fill both roles. He will be at No 6 tonight, with Ryan Wilson getting a chance alongside regular Doug Fletcher in the second row.

Pollock has opted to give some of his regular benchwarmers a run tonight. So halfback James Rodley, wing/fullback Zar Lawrence and hooker Roger Dustow get a start and Jonah Lomu makes his first bow in the run-on XV. He has not appeared in the national championship since 2002 when he was playing for Wellington.

Manawatu remain at the foot of pool A, with a couple of bonus points to show for their efforts. But they have some decent footballers and Boric's teammates will be wise to heed his advice to ignore the points table.

Harbour cannot head Auckland at the top of the ladder and cannot miss a top six playoff spot. But a win will put them back on track for the next step of the uncharted territory that lies ahead.

* Marty Holah, fresh from his rapid return flight to South Africa, is back on the side of the Waikato scrum for their match against Northland in Hamilton tomorrow.

Holah replaces Liam Messam but loose forward is an area Waikato are as strong as any in, with No 8 Sione Lauaki and captain Steven Bates filling out a classy quartet of options for coach Warren Gatland.

Lock Kent Fife gets his first cup start alongside the returning Toby Lynn, now recovered from the side strain which ruled him out of the last two weeks. Jono Gibbes starts on the bench, and Gatland has rejigged his back three, with wing Roger Randle out with a calf strain.

Dwayne Sweeney starts at fullback, with Sosene Anesi and Roy Kinikinilau on the wings.

A five-try win will put Waikato top of the pool, and ensure two of three games at home in the next stage of the competition.

Northland have made three backline changes, with John Senio taking over at halfback, Matt Faleuka returns to the wing and newcomer Warren Dunn gets his chance in place of injured Hayden Taylor at second five-eighth.

Waikato loan wing, Solo Korovata, is relegated to the development team.