Winning's simple as 1, 2, 3 for Harbour

Tony Coughlan claims a try for North Harbour's solid group of forwards. Picture / Greg Bowker

They are not the fancy boys, the headline grabbers, but if North Harbour make the semifinals, they'll collectively doff their caps to the unsung heroes wearing Nos 1, 2 and 3.

Coach Allan Pollock reckons one of the big differences for his team this year is the solidity of the scrum. So step forward Tony Coughlan, Joe Ward and Mike Noble, who have provided the platform for good things to happen out the back.

They play Waikato in the most crucial match of the seventh round at Albany tomorrow, and it will be another test for the front men, up against experienced Deacon Manu and Scott Linklater plus big loosehead Philemon Toleafoa.

Burly tighthead Noble hails from East Coast. The baby of the trio at 27, he is relatively new in terms of games played but has been there or thereabouts for a few seasons.

Ward, at 29, is a seasoned campaigner who was a New Zealand under-21 international and will play his 47th NPC game tomorrow. Coughlan, also 29, has had four years in the Super 12 with the Blues and Hurricanes and will play his 66th NPC game tomorrow.

They have been round the traps for some time now, they're confident with each other's game and it is paying dividends.

"I don't think we're doing anything different," loosehead prop Coughlan said. "We're a couple of years older and a bit wiser, and everything's feeling a bit easier.

"Our tight five is a pretty tight unit. We get together before each game, have a bit of a talk, switch on and go over the game and each other's roles and how we're going to approach the game."

Coughlan and Pollock insist they have not been dominated by any opposing front row this season.

Pollock talks of the confidence the scrummaging has given the team.

"The scrum doesn't disintegrate because we had one single episode when it didn't go our way. They go onto the next scrum and make sure they compete.

"That's a mental toughness you only get by doing it," Pollock said.

Coughlan sang the praises of his front row brothers: "Mike's a big boy, but he holds the scrum up bloody well and he's got a good heart on him.

"Joe's been playing some good footy, but this year he's taken another step up and he's excelling."

Coughlan is not averse to a bit of the rough humour front rowers invariably reserve for their backs.

"Forwards are forwards, and backs get the ball and run with it a bit more and score a few tries after we've set them up," he said.

This season only Wellington, with 25, have scored more than Harbour's 22 tries. Waikato have managed 17 and, as they trail Harbour by four points, must win to keep the semifinal flame flickering.

"We've made it difficult for ourselves by not picking up bonus points," Waikato coach Warren Gatland said, thinking of their losses to Auckland and Canterbury in the last two rounds where bonus points were squandered late in the contests.

"That says we've got to win the next three games, but this is massively important because our next two are at home."

Pollock won't finalise his starting XV until today as he mulls over a positional issue. Gatland has made three changes with Jono Gibbes' season-ending foot injury and Sione Lauaki's two-match ban necessitating moves.

Liam Messam comes in on the flank, and Toby Lynn takes Gibbes' place at lock. Willie Ripia stays at fullback with speedy Sosene Anesi on the wing in place of Richard Kahui, who is out for a week with a knee injury.

* Albany, 2.35pm tomorrow

North Harbour*

George Pisi
Vili Waqaseduadua
Anthony Tuitavake
Rua Tipoki (c)
Zar Lawrence
Luke McAlister
J Poluleuligaga
Nick Williams
Tom Harding
Anthony Boric
Greg Rawlinson
Marty Veale
Mike Noble
Joe Ward
Tony Coughlan

Waikato

Willie Ripia
Sosene Anesi
Keith Lowen
David Hill
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Byron Kelleher
Steven Bates (c)
Marty Holah
Liam Messam
Sean Hohneck
Toby Lynn
Deacon Manu
Scott Linklater
P Toleafoa

Reserves:

Harbour: Roger Dustow, Adrian Donald, Brent Wilson, Rodney Voullaire, Ben Meyer, Joel Nasmith, Andrew Mailei.

Waikato: Aled de Malmanche, Nathan White, Marc Morunaga, Steven Setephano, Brendon Leonard, Dwayne Sweeney, Mark Ranby.

* possible lineup