Rugby: Harbour lean on veteran hooker

By CHRIS RATTUE

North Harbour are considering playing their stalwart hooker, Slade McFarland, as a tighthead prop in this year's NPC.

The 27-year-old Super 12 forward, with 91 appearances for his union since 1993, is being tested in the unfamiliar position in lead-up games to the NPC which begins in mid-August.

The switch has been prompted by the arrival of 24-year-old Wellington hooker Ace Tiatia, a former national Colt, at North Harbour.

Tiatia was transferred to Harbour last November when McFarland headed to British rugby following his controversial omission from the Blues Super 12 squad.

McFarland was subsequently called up by the Crusaders because of an injury to Matt Sexton, so North Harbour have ended up with two quality hookers.

At times during last year's championship, injuries meant North Harbour had to dig deep into club ranks for front-rowers.

They are still awaiting Simon Halford's return from London Irish, while their other tighthead option, Fosi Pala'amo, has had injury problems.

"Slade and Ace are two quality players we would like to have on the field," North Harbour assistant coach Allan Pollock said.

"I think Slade would rather play hooker. He's had a couple of games for New Zealand Maori at prop ... and you could count all his appearances there on one hand.

"Only time will tell if he can make the transition and if it doesn't work out, we'll have two very good players in competition for the hooker's spot."

McFarland has been a fixture in the North Harbour team and was one of the best in the Blues in their troubled 1999 season.

But he played second fiddle to All Black Mark Hammett in the Crusaders and did not get off the bench as Norm Hewitt led the Maori side to a narrow win over Scotland last week.

The Harbour squad are also set to include former Wellington wing/fullback Jeremy Coulter, who played nine games for the province in 1997-98.

A young South African inside back, Morne Coetzee, is also heading North Harbour's way, though Pollock said it would be a matter of "wait and see" whether he would be in contention for the squad.

North Harbour beat Counties Manukau in a trial game at Pukekohe this week and play further warm-up games against Northland on August 1 and Waikato on August 5, both at Albany.