Rugby: History against Harbour's shield sojourn

Rudi Wulf is back from the Northern Hemisphere to give Harbour some pace out wide in their shield tilt in Invercargill this afternoon. Photo / Greg Bowker

For nine members of the North Harbour 23, there is a touch of been there, haven't quite done that, as they go into their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland in Invercargill this afternoon.

This is familiar territory for Harbour.

Last year, they had a tilt at the Southerners for the log and came off second best, 47-21. Their team that day included wing Nafi Tuitavake, halfback and captain Chris Smylie, loose forward Mat Luamanu, lock Filo Paulo and front rowers Ben Afeaki and James Parsons.

Throw in substitutes Ben Botica and Brendon Watt and hooker Mike Mayhew and there's a solid core of players who have tasted the less palatable side of shield rugby at today's venue.

North Harbour won the shield for the first, and so far only time, in 2006, under the leadership of midfield warrior Rua Tipoki. They toppled Canterbury, when no one gave them a prayer, 21-17, and the shield was on its way north. It stayed three defences before Harbour ran across Waikato the following August. The visitors made a mess all over North Harbour stadium, belting the defenders 52-7, the heaviest defeat of all for a shield holder.

The one survivor today from that memorable day in Christchurch is classy centre Rudi Wulf, back after a couple of years in the Northern Hemisphere.

A glance at the ITM Cup tables, and some comprehension of the relative form of the two teams gives Harbour little hope of a second lifting of the log. Southland are second last in the premiership with a 3-3 record so far, but they have had a week to prepare for their defence.

Harbour are second bottom on points difference in the championship only ahead of Tasman before that team's visit to Taranaki last night. Take out a decent win over a tiring Tasman in their second game and Harbour have been desperately disappointing. To be fair, new coach Liam Barry is operating on thin resources.

Then there's the peculiar business of former All Black Luke McAlister, who is again missing today. McAlister's season began with his foot firmly stuck in his mouth, after failing to turn up for training on the scheduled date and failing to advise Barry why. Then he appeared in two games before twinging a hamstring the day before the loss to Manawatu on August 2.

Barry said his advice was that McAlister was still affected by the injury, although others have claimed to have seen the midfield back appearing to be running freely at training.

McAlister is off to Toulouse shortly. His return to the province has been a shambles and it's a shame as at his sharpest he would certainly have added spark to the Harbour backline.

But Harbour are better off without him, considering his attitude has appeared less than wholly committed.

Harbour have given Irwin Finau a chance at lock alongside Filo Paulo, have a decent front row, in which big prop Ben Afeaki has been particularly good value, and there's no doubting they have pace out wide from Tuitavake, Wulf and David Raikuna. It's getting the parts of the machine to gel together which seems Harbour's biggest problem.

As for Southland, the usual suspects will run out today, led by captain Jamie Mackintosh. They have a bracket at No 8 between Elliot Dixon and former Harbour man Tom Chamberlain.

One school of thought might have it that Southland's priority should be avoiding relegation to the championship, therefore they might not have both eyes firmly fixed on the ball today. Don't bet on it. Shield pride is as strong down south as anywhere in the country.