Woodcock back for North Harbour

Tony Woodcock

All Black Tony Woodcock is back to beef up the North Harbour pack for their match against Taranaki at Albany tomorrow night.

The loosehead prop replaces Tony Coughlan in the only change from the side who crushed Waikato last Sunday.

Coach Allan Pollock sticks with 2m tall Anthony Boric at blindside flanker in place of Brent Wilson, liking what he saw from Boric in the Waikato match.

After juggling his options in the early rounds, Pollock has been able to select from a settled, healthy squad, who have got to fourth on the ladder.

Victory tomorrow night will put them within touching distance of the semifinals.

Taranaki are without inspirational lock Paul Tito, who has broken a thumb, and fullback James Hilgendorf, sidelined by a knee injury.

* Utility back Dwayne Sweeney gets a chance at centre for Waikato in their Chiefs franchise showdown with Bay of Plenty in Hamilton tomorrow.

Sweeney has primarily been a bench player this season, but gets a chance alongside David Hill in midfield.

Wing Richard Kahui returns after a fortnight off with a leg injury, and the only possible change in the pack is at lock where coach Warren Gatland has bracketed Toby Lynn and Mark Burman.

Lynn has ankle and knee problems and a final decision won't be made until today or tomorrow.

Bay coach Vern Cotter has named an unchanged side, despite the 19-13 loss at Southland.

Lock Bernie Upton is the big loss. Upton was a good chance to make the All Blacks tour of Britain and Ireland at the end of the year but damaged ankle ligaments have likely put paid to that.

Captain Wayne Ormond takes his place, with Warren Smith in Ormond's regular No 6 jersey.

Fullback Adrian Cashmore sat out training this week with a knee injury and is bracketed with Hayden Reid.

* David Holwell returns to lead Northland at home for the last time this season against Southland on Sunday. The pack is unchanged but Matt Faleuka and Quin Butler, with shoulder and finger injuries respectively, are replaced by Isoa Neivua and Jared Going respectively.

* Leon MacDonald has withdrawn from the Canterbury team to play Otago at Carisbrook tomorrow, still troubled by a knee injury. Cameron McIntyre replaces him in a side which has its All Blacks back.

Aaron Mauger is at second five-eighths and Richie McCaw and Chris Jack return to the pack.

Anton Oliver gets his first start at hooker for Otago as his comeback from a long-term calf injury continues.

* All Black wing Rico Gear makes his debut for second division Nelson Bays tomorrow in their match against Poverty Bay in Gisborne.

Gisborne-born Gear made his representative debut as a 19-year-old with Poverty Bay in the third division.

He's also expecting a huge family turnout at Gisborne's Rugby Park. He'll even be marking his cousin Tau Moeke at centre.

"For me it's quite exciting. I've been involved at this level before. I started in a third division union so really it's nothing new for me," he said.