Rugby: Little heart of Harbour's hopes

By Chris Rattue

He may have sunk from All Black view, and had a battling season with the Super 12 Chiefs.

But 50-test veteran Walter Little has earned nothing but praise from North Harbour, who face another vital match in the NPC first division against Taranaki at Albany today.

Assistant coach Allan Pollock was asked by a media group to nominate his two players of the season this week.

The first answer was a cinch - Ron Cribb. The No 8 is at the core of Harbour hopes these days.

But it was the 30-year-old Little who got the other vote, with Pollock handing out high praise to the long- time Harbour second five-eighths.

"He has a great attitude, in the games and at training. He is just a fantastic bloke and the heart of our team," said Pollock.

"You suppose someone like Walter could have looked at being dropped from the All Blacks [last year] after playing so many tests - and he's had his share of injures - and thought "I don't know about this anymore."

"But he is a heck of a bloke. I can't speak highly enough of him and his attitude with this team.

"Sometimes you can see he's struggling a bit in training but he never stops although he'll admit afterwards that he's 'a bit sore.'"

Pollock said Little had realised he had lost some of his pace and had since concentrated on setting up players around him rather than looking for the main chance himself.

Even in Little's prime, it was often claimed that maybe only Frank Bunce could really operate with him at the top level because Little was prone to unpredictable running which only Bunce could understand.

But Pollock said Little had largely eliminated that from his game, and he credited him with playing a large part in helping Harbour centre Glen Osborne win back his All Black spot for the World Cup.

"He has shut down his opponents superbly and his wiper kicks from inside our half have been vital to us in some pretty close games," said Pollock, who fully expects Little to be back in the Harbour colours next season.

Little will have a major part in today's game, trying to shut down second five-eighths Mepi Faoagali who is the major attacking weapon in the Taranaki backline.

Taranaki will go into the game without suspended flanker Darryl Fale and backup halfback Brendon Haami, while prop Tama Tuirirangi has been benched as the Taranaki management try to give the fiery prop a message on discipline.

Tuirirangi, who has publicly declared that rugby has helped save him from the wild days in his youth, appeared to have trouble staying away from flare-ups in the Counties match and was dragged out of the game for that reason by coach Colin Cooper.

But his replacement, fellow ational Colt Tony Penn, immediately put in a strong performance in the scrum, although he may not have Tuirirangi's impact.

* North Harbour coach Wayne Shelford may miss today's game ollowing the death on Thursday of his father Nathan, after a short illness.