Harbour bank on Frano's old magic

By CHRIS RATTUE

North Harbour have gone for the veteran skills of Frano Botica in an attempt to break open the Otago defence in tomorrow night's NPC semifinal at Albany.

Backs coach Allan Pollock signalled his intentions last week when Botica, 38, was given a full game against Southland, after the former double international had shared game time with 23-year-old Willie Walker this season.

It will only be goalkicking ace Botica's third start this season and his experience in the big time is important in his selection ahead of Walker, who will be on the bench.

But it is the x-factor, the ability to produce the unexpected, that coaches Wayne Shelford and Pollock are looking for Botica to produce.

Pollock believes Walker, a schoolboy star with his heart set on a Super 12 place and eventually the All Blacks, will be inhibited by the pressure of a semifinal before an expected crowd of 20,000 at North Harbour Stadium.

Pollock said Walker had made "huge strides" this season. But while he has sought to draw more of an impromptu game out of Walker, Botica has still won the semifinal nod.

"Rugby is a game of flair where the backs have to take some risks," Pollock said.

"Forwards are more structured and want to know where every blade of grass is, but I always want my backs such as Oz [Glen Osborne], Rua Tipoki, Rico Gear and Frano to play with a free spirit.

"Rugby needs to get back to that. Tana Umaga, who is the best back in the world, and Christian Cullen make some mistakes, but without that they wouldn't do the great things they do.

"Frano will make those little jinking runs and those chip kicks ... none of it is pre-programmed. He's intuitive and probably doesn't know himself what he's going to do until he does it. Semifinals are for winning, not defending."

The Botica-Walker decision was the key selection in the semifinal clashes. North Harbour have lost wing Karl TeNana to a hand injury, while Aisea Tuilevu - coming back from a knee injury - will either start or be left out completely.

In North Harbour's other main selection poser, they will start with speedy loose forwards Matua Parkinson and Craig Newby, leaving reborn blindside Liam Barry and his lineout skills on the bench.

* Otago coach Laurie Mains has left All Black prop Carl Hayman on the bench and will start Joe McDonnell at loosehead again. National Colt Seilala Mapusua takes the midfield back reserve position ahead of George Leaupepe.

* Auckland coach Wayne Pivac has brought back centre Eroni Clarke and young lock Ali Williams from minor injuries as his side attempt to put the Ranfurly Shield nightmare behind them against the brilliant Canterbury line-up at Jade Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Orene Ai'i drops to the reserves, ousting James Arlidge. Paul Thomson returns at loosehead prop in place of Nick White and Samiu Vahafolau takes Charles Riechelmann's blindside position, with another young lock, Bryce Williams, missing the cut.

* Canterbury have stuck by their pledge to send new test locking star Chris Jack to the gym for "reconditioning" and have left him out of their 22.

Utility back Ben Blair, another All Black prospect, returns from a knee injury via the bench in place of Marika Vunibaka.

And Billy Fulton takes Ben Hurst's bench position on coach Steve Hansen's reserve halfback rotation policy.