If simple words get lost in translation then maybe there is a need for some interpreters at Harbour these days.

Words like run, tackle, pass, kick, space, width, ruck, clear, out, all sound like small words to me, so is it that they are being said in a foreign language or is it that they are not fully understood by the shambles that are North Harbour rugby team and coaches. I have decided to try and see if we can help the boys before we get any more shafting's this season!

Run - a movement similar to walking but completed at a faster rate. It allows you to get from one place to another in a short space of time, like a try line for example, or a ruck.

Tackle - the technique used to stop an opposite team member from going from point A to point B. Often grabbing around the legs constitutes a tackle.

Pass - a skill that allows you to transfer a ball from point A to point B. If practised enough, you can get one of these pass things down to a fine art and be able to add running to it.

Kick - the ability to use your foot to move the ball to a pre-determined destination. It often means that the ball can be moved further than the pass option.

Space - an area that is devoid of objects, like people for example!

Width - something that has great width means it is wide! It means that there is a distance between point A and point B. Often in the game of rugby the wing player likes width as it means that he may see the ball. It also means that the opposition may have to work hard to cover that width.

Ruck - This could get technical, so listen up. A collective point of contact between 3 people in a game of rugby. Many more people may get involved, so pushing and contact is required to get to the ball.

Clear out - two words, I know, but they go so well together. They insinuate that you clear an object away from a specific area, like a Ruck for example.

How amazing that as you start to put these words together, they become terminology of rugby. Should the coaching staff at North Harbour be able to read them and understand them, there is a remote possibility that they can then have a crayons and drawing day with the players to see if they can get their message over.

Whilst talking to one another is often the most preferred method of communication, it seems that this bunch of Muppet's require back to school basics to help them be able to communicate between one another to try and help them stop the rot that is season 2008.

If Harbour are to rescue anything from the next few games it will require a complete miracle! Watching the performance against Southland was more than just heartbreaking/horrendous/gut wrenching and sickening. It was the sheer disbelief that a team of so called semi-pro (maybe even pro) rugby players were so badly prepared, and technically and tactically inept.

Pivac must go! and the sooner the better or we will be feasting on more servings of shite before this season is out. I am off to develop next week's bigger words for the coaches and should be back with a second letter soon enough.

Next week we may look at contact area, mauling, defence, counter attack and off loading in contact!

Mairangi Murray!