Italian test lock tossed into fray

By CHRIS RATTUE

North Harbour will fling Australian-born Italian test lock Mark Giacheri into their opening NPC clash against Otago in Dunedin tomorrow night.

The 32-year-old Sydneysider, who has played 37 tests for Italy since 1992, has been in the country just a few days but will join Matt Lord in the second row.

Giacheri played in the Italian team beaten 101-3 by the All Blacks in Huddersfield at the 1999 World Cup, a team that included his new North Harbour team-mate Glen Osborne.

The powerfully built, 2.03m (6ft 8in) Giacheri, whose last test was against Argentina a month ago, will be North Harbour's middle-of-the-lineout jumper.

He has been signed for the first five rounds to cover for the absence of All Black Troy Flavell.

"We really needed someone to cover Troy and found Mark through a series of contacts," said assistant coach Allan Pollock.

Giacheri pushes Phil Weedon into the reserves and North Harbour have made another key change to what was shaping as their starting XV.

Veteran first five-eighths Frano Botica will start ahead of Willy Walker as Harbour look for experience and goalkicking in their opening assignment.

"It is a pressure game, the first game of the tournament, and you'd have to say that often the first games are over-refereed, with a lot of penalties," Pollock added.

North Harbour have injury problems at second five-eighths.

Rua Tipoki is out because of neck and leg injuries and former All Black Mark Mayerhofler has an injured groin and is bracketed with New Zealand Universities representative Scott Adams, who did his medical studies in Dunedin.

Giacheri will face an Otago lineout missing the experienced John Blaikie, out with mild concussion thanks to Wellington lock Dion Waller. Waller was suspended for two weeks for punching in a warm-up game.

Otago captain Kelvin Middleton is out for six weeks with medial ligament damage.

All Black captain Anton Oliver's hooker understudy, Tom Willis, takes over the leadership.

In the three-quarters, Dan Parkinson (calf) and Neil Brew (hamstring) will also be absent.

Otago: Hayden Reid, Roy Hawker, Ryan Nicholas, George Leaupepe, James Jowsey, Brendan Laney, David Gibson; Paul Miller, Duncan Blaikie, Josh Blackie, Simon Maling, Filipo Levi, Kees Meeuws, Tom Willis (c), Marius Mostert/Joe McDonnell. Res: Seilala Mapusua, Regan Finch, Brett McCormack; Sam Harding, Hale Tu'uhoko, McDonnell/Mostert, Davin Heaps.

North Harbour: Glen Osborne, Aisea Tuilevu, Rico Gear, Mark Mayerhofler/Scott Adams, Karl Tenana, Frano Botica, Mark Robinson (c); Blair Urlich, Matua Parkinson, Craig Newby, Mark Giacheri, Matt Lord, Tevita Taumoepeau, Slade McFarland, Tony Woodcock. Res: Adams, Willie Walker, Tony Alatini; Liam Barry, Phil Weedon, John Buchanan, Ace Tiatia.