Rugby: Botica can see the end coming

By Chris Rattue

Frano Botica will join the list of New Zealand rugby icons heading into retirement, although he has still got one more overseas sojourn to go.

The 36-year-old Botica's North Harbour side have a crucial match against Canterbury at Albany on Friday night. Botica said yesterday that this would almost certainly be his last season in New Zealand, meaning a loss on Friday could make the match his farewell appearance here.

Waikato points wizard Matthew Cooper and Steelers stalwart Jim Coe will also call it a day, while All Black and Auckland legend Michael Jones is seriously considering retirement, although he had still not made a final decision yesterday.

And record-holding test lock Ian Jones, also from Harbour, has quit New Zealand rugby to finish up with Gloucester.

Botica will play one season for French club Biarritz after this NPC season before returning to New Zealand in May, when he will contemplate playing only a support or back-up role if North Harbour need him.

Botica has never played in an NPC semifinal or final. He was in rugby league's ranks when Harbour made the first four semifinals from 1992 to 1995 and lost the final to Auckland at Eden Park in 1994.

"I'm still fit enough to cope with the game, although not as fit as I used to be and you feel the knocks a bit more. But it's time to give the young players coming through their go," he said.

"I'd hate to say right now I'm retiring - I'd prefer to wait until I actually do it.

"But there is no way that I'll be a first-string player here again. The only thing I would do is offer support and be a back-up."

Botica has been a fine player and goalkicker in two codes, and along with Wayne Shelford was instrumental in building North Harbour as a genuine force in New Zealand rugby.

He had seven tests for the All Blacks but then played second fiddle to Grant Fox, switched codes in 1989, and starred for the powerful Wigan rugby league club. His league career included a year with the Auckland Warriors.

The ending of rugby's so-called amateur era enabled him to finish off in union, initially with Welsh club Llanelli and for North Harbour in the last two NPC seasons.

Botica said he had not had any offers to return to England, and Biarritz - a resort for the rich and famous - would be a great place to play out his career.

Botica proved again what a matchwinner he is when he goaled seven from seven to be the difference as North Harbour held off Counties Manukau's fightback at Pukekohe on Sunday.

His goalkicking could be crucial again on Friday night against a Canterbury team who have struggled in that department without Andrew Mehrtens.

The last-round match between North Harbour and Canterbury will probably be a sudden-death one.

The winners will secure a semifinal and maybe even at home if Northland can upset Waikato in Whangarei on Saturday. But Friday night's losers will dip out of the playoffs unless Otago can upset Wellington at Athletic Park on Sunday.

"It's good that we're on first and can get it out of the way but if we lose, it will be a weekend of nail biting," said Botica.

"We've got the players who can score the points. We just need to concentrate on a couple of other aspects.

"There have been a lot of people who have never got to play in an NPC semi or final and this is really the last chance for me. If we win the NPC, I definitely won't be back."