RUGBY - It's official - this game is massive

ALL A-BOARD!
A last-minute visit from the boardroom has underlined the significance off the pitch and now Northland rugby coach Mark Anscombe is hoping his team is ready for some hard-core intensity on it.
Northland will play Bay of Plenty in an Air NZ Cup match at Okara Park tonight, a game now set as the focus for provincial rugby fans keen on voicing discontent at a decision from the New Zealand Rugby Union to demote Northland next season.
The resulting paper trail of debate saw a delegation of Northland Rugby Union (NRU) board members arrive at training yesterday to address the team.
Chairman Wayne Peters, deputy chair Andrew Golightly and chief executive Jim Smillie were all at Okara Park to talk to the team at the traditional "captain's run". It is usually the exclusive domain of players, sometimes even sans coaching staff.
But Anscombe for one is far more wary of what awaits them in rugby boots tonight than what the boys in suits were saying yesterday.
"Bay of Plenty have a hard-core forward pack that plays with a bit of fire in their belly. They really have some experience and a solid tight five that I think could offer some challenges," Anscombe said.
Armed with three wins from three games so far this season, the Bay of Plenty side will also arrive primed with confidence and wary of a hometown advantage that will help the Northland team.
Weather permitting, NRU staff are predicting a huge crowd tonight, which will only help boost the Northland side for an energetic effort. Grandstand seats sold out on Wednesday and, with ground entry just $5 and free for children, spectators will pour in.
News that winger Jason Hona hobbled away from Bay of Plenty training yesterday and is doubtful for tonight's match was also noted.
The former New Zealand Sevens representative had been named in the starting side but was now likely to be replaced by Teu Nafe.
Hona suffered a minor leg injury but the Bay side had some good news in the form of No1 hooker John Pareanga getting through his workload and over his calf injury to be named for the round four Air New Zealand Cup match. Dean Elmiger will slip back into the reserves with Ray Brown, who is bracketed on the bench, expected to drop out of the match 22.
The other bracket sees Solomon King and Luke Braid paired on the flank with Josh Katene ready to come into the reserves should King not be able to start on the blindside flank.
There is a switch in the reserves where halfback Josh Hall replaces Kelly Haimona.
The rest of the side is predictable and the basis of the team which has gone through the Cup unbeaten so far.