Harbour get chance to even score

North Harbour 31 Southland 22

North Harbour's march to the semifinals has a black mark against it, and they'll get the chance to put that right at Eden Park on Saturday.

The NPC semifinal mix was finalised yesterday in Invercargill in the last round-robin match of the season.

Harbour's win over Southland bumped them ahead of Otago into third place and set them on track for a cross-town match-up against Auckland.

Canterbury overtook Auckland with their convincing 27-12 win in Christchurch and, as top qualifier, play fourth-finishing Otago on Friday night at Jade Stadium.

In the opening round on August 13, Auckland went to Albany and dusted Harbour 27-10. That result sits like a burr in the Harbour saddle. They have improved throughout the season, playing some fine rugby along the way.

Harbour had no preference for their semifinal opponent, coach Allan Pollock said last night, but he added a rider.

"We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to play Auckland again [this season]," he said.

"We felt it was important to redress that first game. Auckland played well and more than deservedly had their win.

"We think we've evolved, become a much better team and by playing them again we'll be able to measure how far we've come."

Pollock also pointed to Super 14 Blues selection as an extra ingredient in the Eden Park clash.

The Super 14 squads are due to be named on October 28. Blues selection has long been a sore point with Harbour rugby people, who have felt hard done by in previous seasons.

"We'd weaken our case if we lose twice to Auckland in the same year," Pollock said.

He did not believe Harbour would have learned much they didn't already know about Auckland from their effort against Canterbury on Saturday night. It was a continuation of the strategy they have stuck with through the season.

"I think Auckland will keep on being Auckland, and so they should.

"It's been a successful brand for them and with their player mix they've got a playing style which maximises what they perceive as their strengths."

Knowing they had to beat Southland to get a face-off with Auckland gave Harbour an extra incentive yesterday.

They ran in four tries, including a remarkable sidestepping jink down the right-hand touchline by wing Vili Waqaseduadua, in which he evaded six tacklers over the width of little more than a metre to score in the corner.

Southland's final try on a sunny afternoon went to their old warrior, No 8 Paul Miller, in his final appearance before heading to Japan.

The game, described by Pollock as "Harlem Globetrotterish", had a loose, end-of-season feel about it.

"We got carried away by the opportunity to play in bright sunlight, on a fast track, with a referee who encouraged the game to flow and we lost a little of our discipline on the ball," he said.

Still, the game produced what he called the ideal trifecta: a win, a bonus point and no injuries.