Tahana makes his point

1.00pm

The circumstances could not have been more different for outstanding Bay of Plenty rugby wing Anthony Tahana.

Tahana was an undoubted star in the team's tenacious 14-9 win over North Harbour in Albany on Sunday but two months ago he left North Harbour Stadium with his NPC season in doubt.

Tahana, 26, was stretchered off the field in the pre-season win over North Harbour with a suspected neck injury which turned out just to be bruising.

He was in pain after Sunday's game as well -- but this time it was just bumps and bruises from having thrown himself around with reckless abandon for 80 heart-stopping minutes.

Tahana's roll of honour included scoring the winning try in the 56th minute and a brilliant trysaving tackle on Rico Gear in the 70th minute.

There was also a withering burst from Tahana that was stopped just short of the tryline by a desperate North Harbour first five-eighth Luke McAlister with two minutes left.

With a big heart and a zany sense of humour, Tahana has attracted something of a cult following within Bay of Plenty this season -- particularly with his trademark point to the crowd after scoring.

"It's something I just started this year and the boys seem to like it," he said with a grin.

They also like that Tahana has brought his "point" out five times this season; he is the side's top tryscorer.

His effort on Sunday was another example of getting a sniff of a chance and converting it with aplomb, as he ran off halfback Charles Hubbard from a few metres out.

"It was awesome persistence from the forwards and good patience grinding their forwards down," Tahana said.

"Charlie saw a little gap and just popped it inside, I was lucky enough to take it."

The NPC semifinal against Canterbury in Christchurch on Saturday holds no fears for Tahana.

He has come up against the best wings the NPC can throw at him and has yet to be beaten.

Canterbury's All Blacks-laden backline will just be another high-profile hurdle to leap.

"All the pressure is off now. There was a lot of pressure to make the semis but now we can just relax and go from there. There's no pressure to get points," Tahana said.

"We'll have a good rest and go from there. It's another stepping stone for the boys for their bread and butter -- another week to get looked at by the selectors.

"We're just really humble and work hard for each other. It's the way it's always been. There are no flash fellas here."

Despite the torrid final round-robin game on Sunday, coaches Vern Cotter and Joe Schmidt should have an almost fully fit squad to chose from for the semifinal, with only fullback Adrian Cashmore in doubt because of a disc problem in his back.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES

NPC fixtures, results and standings
Division One | Division Two |