Rugby: Flavell named Harbour captain

By CHRIS RATTUE and NZPA

All Blacks lock Troy Flavell will captain North Harbour in this year's NPC, providing another boost to his rapidly rising career.

Halfback Mark Robinson will lead the side for the first two or three weeks in the championship, which begins in nine days, while the All Blacks complete their Tri-Nations assignment.

Flavell, who is just 23, will then take over the reins of a North Harbour side who are expected to make a strong challenge for the title based around their increasingly respected forward pack.

It was not too long ago that Flavell was regarded as a bad boy of the game who might struggle to fulfil his potential.

But 2000 has turned into a watershed season for him. He was outstanding in the Blues, opened his test career with an extraordinary try-scoring performance against Tonga, has started a major test ahead of Norm Maxwell, and will now lead his province.

Flavell takes over the captaincy from Frano Botica, who has had any hope of playing even a small role in the Harbour campaign quashed because his French club, Biarritz, will not release him.

North Harbour also dallied with trying to lure discarded Auckland locking great Robin Brooke into their side, although that has apparently turned into a blind alley.

Harbour assistant coach Allan Pollock said that despite Flavell's not having previous captaincy experience, he was a natural leader for the side. He also hoped his elevation would help to rub out Flavell's image of being undisciplined.

"He is an incredible trainer, a leader, who always takes a step forward," Pollock said. "Troy was never as bad as the public thought.

"It all related to one [eye-gouging] incident a couple of years ago when he was totally innocent. But mud sticks.

"People who know Troy realise he is completely different from that image.

"Public image is important and hopefully this will enhance his reputation."

Meanwhile, Northland beat North Harbour 24-11 in an NPC warm-up match at Albany last night.

North Harbour will confirm their squad for the season on Monday, but Pollock said that long-time hooker Slade McFarland would be named as a prop.

North Harbour signed up Wellington hooker Ace Tiatia when it appeared that McFarland would play in Europe after he missed out on the Blues squad this year.

But he returned earlier than expected to replace injured Crusaders hooker Matt Sexton, meaning North Harbour ended up with a surplus of quality hookers.

That persuaded head North Harbour coach Wayne Shelford to test the hard-charging McFarland at prop, where he has made a couple of brief appearances for the New Zealand Maori side.

Former All Black Scott McLeod has been thrown a lifeline for the start of the NPC.

McLeod has made it back into the Waikato squad after missing the early Ranfurly Shield defences and must be a prime contender to start the opening first-division game against Otago in Dunedin on August 13 now that Keith Lowen is injured.

Lowen damaged his shoulder while playing for Hautapu in the Waikato club semifinals nine days ago and could be out for up to four weeks.

Waikato coach Kiwi Searancke yesterday named an NPC squad of 24 players, including McLeod, Lowen and Mark Ranby as his midfield backs. McLeod was told to complete his recovery from injury through club rugby rather than the early shield matches and Searancke said he was now happy McLeod was back to full fitness and injury-free.

Not in Searancke's squad is former All Black Mark Cooksley, who has played 67 games for Waikato.

Waikato A: Backs: Todd Miller, Grant McQuoid, Damian Karauna, Roger Randle, Bruce Reihana, Scott McLeod, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby, Glen Jackson, Ben Willis, Rhys Duggan.

Forwards: Deon Muir (capt), Jono Gibbes, Nick Holten, Scott Couch, Marty Holah, Royce Willis, Chresten Davis, Tony Petero, Deacon Manu, David Briggs, Paul Martin, Greg Smith, Guy Coleman.

Waikato B:Backs: Wayne Barr, Brett Beagley, Nick Collins, Wayne Harris, Duncan Jamieson, Tim McArthur, Eugene Martin, Daniel Moeke, Dean Sundborn, Shane Thornton, Mark van Gisbergen, Alex Young.

Forwards: Api Apelu, Matt Breach, Dillon Clark, Mark Cooksley, Nick Dawson, Dave Dillon, Anton Edwards, Denis Hazelton, Shaun Higginson, Brendan Lally, Scott Miller, Tony Philp, Glen Remnant, Terry Rutherford, Clinton Watene (capt), Paul Wheeler.