Taranaki look to hold top spot

1.00pm

Wellington are the only team capable of overtaking Taranaki in the NPC first division this weekend.

For that to happen it would require Wellington (15 points) to emerge with maximum points at home against Auckland (8) tomorrow and Taranaki (19) to lose and fail to take any bonus points against Canterbury at New Plymouth on Sunday.

'Naki, as rugby commentators refer to Taranaki these days, are the only side in the 10-team first division to have won all four games so far and have a 102 points differential advantage over second-placed Wellington.

Wellington are also unbeaten, with three wins and a draw.

Taranaki, however, face an improving Canterbury side who will welcome back All Black lock Chris Jack, and pressure on them will not ease for the rest of the season.

After Canterbury, Taranaki face Auckland and Wellington away Wellington and Otago and Waikato in New Plymouth before the playoffs.

Taranaki led the competition for the first two rounds last season before collapsing, but they have shown far more consistency in their games this season. Their Australian playmaker, Brock James, has captured the interest of the Hurricanes.

But their strength lies in the pack where they have honest toilers such as Brent Thompson, Reece Robinson, Paul Tito, Gordon Slater, Andrew Hore and Tony Penn.

North Harbour and Southland square off at Albany tonight, and on last week's performance the home side's backline, including Rico and Hosea Gear, Nick Evans and Luke McAlister, should run their opponents off their feet.

But the Harbour pack have shown frailties almost constantly this season and that is where Southland are likely to attack them.

Harbour coach Allan Pollock has dropped prop Adrian Donald and brought in Mike Noble, the 130kg-plus former East Coast front rower who has just one substitution appearance this season.

With Joe Ward rested, the lineout pressure will be on hooker Roger Dustow, and if there are early problems, former Southland lock Steve Jackson might get an early appearance.

Southland have brought in New Zealand under-19 captain and prop Jamie Mackintosh.

Otago will give first five-eighth Shaun Webb a fitness test before confirming his position in the team for tomorrow's match against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga.

Webb suffered a heavy blow to the head against Southland last weekend. Mathew Berquist will play if Webb is out.

Bay of Plenty halfback Kevin Senio won't play again this season.

Senio, who was injured against Taranaki two weeks ago, had an MRI scan which revealed a fracture in his ankle.

"I've had pretty bad luck with injuries, especially when it counts," he said.

An injury to fullback Todd Miller has gifted Isaac Boss the chance to show his versatility for Waikato. They meet Northland in Hamilton tomorrow.

Boss, normally a halfback, will fill the No 15 jersey.

The match will mark the return of All Blacks loose forwards Jono Gibbes and Marty Holah to the Waikato forward pack.

Gibbes, who will start at blindside flanker ahead of Liam Messam, will resume the captaincy of the team.

A leaky midfield defence has resulted in some key changes to the Northland backline.

But injuries could yet be the biggest factor in determining the final composition of the Northland side, with centre Hayden Taylor still doubtful, Josh Levi almost certainly out and utility back Matt Faleuka also struggling.

Captain Jared Going has shifted from second five-eighth to fullback and Faleuka pushed out to the wing in place of Aaron Baigent.

In the second division, East Coast host top side Hawke's Bay, Counties-Manukau are at home to Wanganui, Nelson Bays meet Marlborough in Nelson and North Otago play Manawatu in the feature match at Oamaru.

Leaders Mid Canterbury play struggling Buller, King Country meet Poverty Bay, South Canterbury face Wairarapa Bush and Horowhenua Kapiti play West Coast in the third division.

- NZPA

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