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Last updated:10-09-2010
from 09:35 until 11:35
Southland vs North Harbour LIVE HERE
Things haven't quite gone to plan for North Harbour this season. On the back of three straight losses they are sitting 11th on the ITM Cup ladder and are a massive nine competition points behind seventh place Waikato. But if they ever needed motivation for tonight's Ranfurly Shield challenge in Invercargill, they need do no more than cast their minds back to September 24, 2006.
On that occasion an unfancied Harbour side slipped into Christchurch relatively unnoticed and made history by beating a powerful Canterbury line-up, to win the coveted Log of Wood for the first time in North Harbour's history.
The odds are again stacked against them, but Harbour is coming up against a Southland side that could be vulnerable. Previously unbeaten, the Stags fell victim to Northland's counter-attacking brand of rugby last weekend despite dominating possession.
Harbour and every other side in the ITM Cup should take plenty from that win. The Taniwha have proven that the best way to beat the Stags is to play the game at pace. The Southland boys of course prefer the arm-wrestle: Indeed four of their five victories have been by 12 points or less, and despite leaking four tries last week, they still boost the competitions third best defence
The return of tackling machine John Hardie will only help their cause and Southland will back their monster defence, in front of 16,500 fans, to keep their prized possession at home.
Key: Michael Harris and Luke McAlister. Harbour's two directors need to keep the ball in hand and take a chance. If they kick the ball away, they might never see it back.
