For years, the opposition scouting reports on North Harbour made similar reading, just change the odd name and date.
They had snazzy backs who could shift with the best and the odd good forward, but a serious lack of tight grunt up front.
The most interesting part of their march
to the semifinals has been the rewriting of that old script. The Harbour pack, setting aside the opening round tune up from Auckland, has been generally outstanding.
The front row of Mike Noble, Joe Ward and Tony Coughlan (and now All Black loosehead Tony Woodcock) has been combative. Greg Rawlinson and Marty Veale have been an ideal blend of the lineout dominator and the hard grafter, and Nick Williams, Tom Harding and the tall Anthony Boric or Brent Wilson at blindside have been a complementary blend of back row talents.
"We've got a good balance of guys who complement each other," Harbour assistant coach Mark Anscombe said yesterday.
"There are ball runners like Ward and Williams, and we've got the guys who are hard grafters who people don't notice but who are crucial to the type of game we play. Marty Veale and Tony Coughlan are great examples of that."
Anscombe, who spent five years as a successful Auckland Colts and development coach before returning to Harbour last year as Allan Pollock's No 2, pointed to having lost only Craig Newby from last season, the fact everyone is encouraged to have their say in different aspects of the forward game and a strong work ethic as key ingredients in a successful mix.
Anscombe, who has responsibility for the forward pack, said there had been times when the coaches had been "a little more direct" with the players this season. He is a firm believer that unless the pack is efficient, no amount of gifted runners out the back will compensate.
"The ethic is we don't point fingers. We look within first and foremost. It's about honesty, and we trust each other.
"We won't bore them and labour the training as long as when we say we want work we get it. We all have fun and get on well. It's a good mix of guys who like poking the borax, others who are hard grafters and then the jokers."
Losing to Auckland was a decent wake-up call. Harbour fancied themselves against the Auckland pack, and Anscombe admitted it re-emphasised the point that his forwards needed to be consistently strong.
As he put it: "If we're not on the button every game, you can get done".
"We have the talent, it's the mindset that has to be on the mark every time. Southland are another example this weekend.
"They're having their best season. They're always renowned up front. If we go down thinking we're already in the semifinals, we're going to have a hiccup. And we don't want that."
Harbour are unchanged from the team who ensured progress to the semifinals with a 37-3 beating of Taranaki last weekend. Coughlan comes on to the bench as do loose forward Rodney Voullaire and halfback Craig McGrath.
Southland will be saying farewell to hardman No 8 Paul Miller, who is off to Japan. Southland have been good value this season and could finish fifth with a win tomorrow.
The Harbour second XV play Southland tomorrow for the title. Southland lead by a point from Harbour, who are defending their title.
* Invercargill, 2.35pm tomorrow
Southland
Pehi Te Whare
Illy Delasau
Ben Smith
Jason Kawau
Watisoni Lotawa
Richard Apanui
Jimmy Cowan
Paul Miller
Tim Boys
Daniel Quate
Hoani Macdonald
Kane Thompson
Craig Dunlea
Jason Rutledge
Clarke Dermody (c)
North Harbour
George Pisi
Vili Waqaseduadua
Anthony Tuitavake
Rua Tipoki (c)
Zar Lawrence
Luke McAlister
Junior Poluleuligaga
Nick Williams
Tom Harding
Anthony Boric
Greg Rawlinson
Marty Veale
Mike Noble
Joe Ward
Tony Woodcock
Reserves
Southland: David Hall, Kent Anderson, Rees Logan, Hua Tamariki, Phil Dawson, Ryan Smith, Mana Harrison.
North Harbour: Roger Dustow, Tony Coughlan, Brent Wilson, Rodney Voullaire, Craig McGrath, Joel Nasmith, Andrew Mailei
North Harbour assistant coach Mark Anscombe says coaches have been more direct with players this season. Picture / Brett Phibbs
For years, the opposition scouting reports on North Harbour made similar reading, just change the odd name and date.
They had snazzy backs who could shift with the best and the odd good forward, but a serious lack of tight grunt up front.
The most interesting part of their march
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