Stand by for a soaring score

By CHRIS RATTUE


Hang on to your hats folks. If madcap rugby is your go, then the game of the season might be upon us.

North Harbour and Wellington will tangle at Albany stadium tomorrow, in a match that promises a feast of points.

Last year's clash was a dour affair, that is until after-match controversy struck.

Harbour - sparked by South African import Chad Alcock - won by 15 to 3 in the wind and wet in the capital.

But they were docked the NPC points when Alcock was ruled ineligible, another dismal moment in a rough season for them.

If North Harbour's mood in particular is anything to go by, and taking into account Wellington's five-try win over Canterbury in the first round, then the points should flow tomorrow.

Not that North Harbour necessarily want it that way.

Coach Allan Pollock said they had been working hard this week on improving their defence, which has been erratic against Taranaki and Canterbury.

"As we keep saying, systems don't make tackles," he said. Rome wasn't built in a day, and the suspicion remains that Harbour are still a side more capable of punch and counter-punch, than grinding it out in the trenches.

"If running rugby is your thing, then Albany could well be the place to be," Pollock conceded.

The frustration for North Harbour is that they have talent to burn in the backs, but will court disaster unless they find ways of limiting opponents.

In a significant change to the pack, Greg Rawlinson gets his first start of the season. The South African, who is now domiciled in New Zealand, is a powerful grafter. He is making his first NPC start of the season having returned from a foot operation, after playing through the Super 12 with a bone fracture.

While Rawlinson will add power plus commitment to the clean-out work, Harbour may have sacrificed some lineout strength by relegating Steve Jackson to the reserves.

Wellington appear to be a more structured side under the coaching of John Plumtree, who is in his second season, but there is still a loose cannon aspect to their game.

And they will miss the outstanding defence of All Black captain Tana Umaga - who is rested again - which could expose their midfield tackling.

Wellington held Canterbury to two tries in their opener and Otago to 16 points.- although they are hardly the wild bunch in the scoring department.

But home advantage, and Harbour's brilliant comeback in Christchurch suggests they are the side who should emerge with the victory points.