KEY POINTS:
North Harbour will decide today whether to cite a Waikato player for allegedly biting lock Greg Rawlinson on the finger.
The allegation stirred memories of 1992, when Waikato's big win in the first national championship final was clouded by the revelation, from a review of the match telecast, that Richard Loe had eye-gouged Otago's Greg Cooper, an offence which resulted in Loe being suspended for most of the 1993 season.
North Harbour coach Wayne Pivac analysed video footage of the game's latter stages yesterday and, although he was convinced an incident took place, he conceded it could be difficult to prove.
Rawlinson knew who had allegedly bitten him, but Pivac would not name the player.
Harbour now have the difficult task of refocusing on the Air New Zealand Cup and trying to at least gain a place in the playoffs.
They will have to do that without their best forward, No 8 Nick Williams, who was carried from the field on a stretch late in the first spell with a dislocated fibula, and his replacement, Viliame Ma'afu, who has a damaged eye socket.
- additional reporting NZPA
