Rugby: Shelford foresees battle royal with Northland

Northland v North Harbour

North Harbour coach Wayne Shelford predicts a titanic forward struggle when his side meet Northland in Whangarei tomorrow.

Shelford believes that with vital championship points at stake the match could develop into the one of the best games of the season.

"There are key match-ups right across the paddock and some really big battles looming in the forwards where I think we will see a tremendous struggle between two very good forward packs," he said.

The match-ups among the loose forwards are particularly intriguing, with All Black No 8 Ron Cribb marking Northland's Samiu Vahafolau, while Matua Parkinson and Justin Collins are two openside flankers hoping to be considered for the All Blacks' tour to France and Italy.

Shelford said the head-to-head match-ups go from the front row to fullback, with very little dividing the two teams in any positions. His excitement about the game is tempered somewhat with the realisation that his team are as unpredictable as Northland when it comes to delivering on the day.

"Let's be honest, either team could blow it on the day. That's the sort of teams we are," he said.

Shelford hopes the game will end up showcasing the talent within the Blues' Super 12 franchise and laying the platform for solid representation when it comes time to finalise Super 12 line-ups.

"As partners in the Blues' franchise neither North Harbour nor Northland have really bought into it. If we can get representation from both unions in that Blues team then that will change.

"This is the players' chance to push for a Super 12 spot."

Northland coach Bryce Woodward is likely to play Rolly Verran at second five-eighths in the absence of the injured Robbie Johnson. Otherwise the team will be unchanged from last weekend.

- NZPA