By CHRIS RATTUE
NORTHLAND
PLUSES: Scarce as All Black tries. Hayden Taylor returns - a strong suit in this company.
MINUSES: Your pick. Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Norm Berryman, Jason Shoemark, Glenn Taylor, Mose Tuiali'i, Tim Knight etc gone.
CATCH CRY: Help!
GOOD ADVICE: Shut your eyes at the Dunedin, Christchurch and Hamilton games.
PROSPECTS: Read 2003. Distant
10th.
NORTH HARBOUR
PLUSES: Sparky backs, steady pack. Newcomer Steve Jackson a lineout steal. Luke McAlister's year?
MINUSES: Back defence; Ron Cribb, Troy Flavell, Matua Parkinson, Tevita Taumoepeau, Chad Alcock, Karl TeNana, Blair Larsen gone.
CATCH CRY: Remember the basics.
GOOD ADVICE: Hold all bets.
PROSPECTS: Mid table, again.
AUCKLAND
PLUSES: Talent to burn. All Blacks galore, if used.
MINUSES: Too many rookies might spoil the trot. Vague on All Black participation.
CATCH CRY: Make the ball available.
OUR ADVICE: Handle with care.
PROSPECTS: With test players, nice ride. Without, needs test drive.
WAIKATO
PLUSES: Strong NPC history. Super 12 confidence. Byron Kelleher and Sitiveni Sivivatu. Coach John Mitchell.
MINUSES: Medical misadventures.
CATCH CRY: Get down in the trenches.
OUR ADVICE: Solid bets.
PROSPECTS: Power into the semis, power down from there if injuries don't mend.
BAY OF PLENTY
PLUSES: Growing confidence. Gained Adrian Cashmore and Rua Tipoki. Settled pack rucks and rolls.
MINUSES: Lost the shock factor. Opponents armed and waiting.
CATCH CRY: We're not one-hit wonders.
OUR ADVICE: Reality check is the mail.
PROSPECTS: Will struggle to match 2003's fifth spot.
TARANAKI
PLUSES: Stung by last year's failure. Coach Kieran Crowley should have more of a clue.
MINUSES: Rot set in last year. Lack of the X-factor.
CATCH CRY: All hands on deck.
OUR ADVICE: Don't hold your breath.
PROSPECTS: A lot better than Northland's.
WELLINGTON
PLUSES: Might relish new era (no Kupu Vanisi, Christian Cullen, Jason Spice, Pita Alatini, Paul Steinmetz, Jonah Lomu).
MINUSES: Then again, that's quite a list. Wellington prefer World Cup years.
CATCH CRY: It's a fresh start.
OUR ADVICE: Expect the miraculous, but not miracles.
PROSPECTS: Fifth (you get the idea)
CANTERBURY
PLUSES: Reputations on the line. Fewer All Black losses. Forward might.
MINUSES: Joe Maddock, Mark Robinson, Scott Robertson, Mark Hammett gone.
CATCH CRY: A call to arms.
OUR ADVICE: Don't mess with.
PROSPECTS: Plenty of black, not much red. Our title pick.
OTAGO
PLUSES: Ball running, test-class pack - Anton Oliver's mobile army.
MINUSES: Kelleher, Tony Brown, Kelvin Middleton, Tom Willis out. Limited lineout. Backs not to the front.
CATCH CRY: Never let a chance go by.
OUR ADVICE: Don't plan any street parades.
PROSPECTS: Homeland security, foreign despairs.
SOUTHLAND
PLUSES: Invercargill. Paul Miller - No 8 fire? Old Crusader Andy Miller - snappy Jap import.
MINUSES: Steve Jackson and Ben Herring gone. Stunts don't match grunt. Opponents now wary.
CATCH CRY: All for one, one for all.
OUR ADVICE: Visitors, bring more than a warm jacket.
PROSPECTS: Southern reverse.
NPC points table
NPC fixtures
By CHRIS RATTUE
NORTHLAND
PLUSES: Scarce as All Black tries. Hayden Taylor returns - a strong suit in this company.
MINUSES: Your pick. Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Norm Berryman, Jason Shoemark, Glenn Taylor, Mose Tuiali'i, Tim Knight etc gone.
CATCH CRY: Help!
GOOD ADVICE: Shut your eyes at the Dunedin, Christchurch and Hamilton games.
PROSPECTS: Read 2003. Distant
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