From: Alistair@<withheld>.com
To: info@harbourrugby.com
Subject: You beauty! Harbour 23, Japan 19
Date: Tue, June 8, 2010 1:58 pm

North Harbour claimed a famous victory in their first international outing [Editor: what are you talking about, "their first international outing"?] by beating Asian Five Nations rugby champions Japan 23-19. Harbour were outscored three tries to two, but without the mass changes in personnel at half time it could have been better for Harbour. Mind you with better handling, from both sides, the score could have been much greater and a different outcome completely.

I guess JK got what he wanted and his team, particularly up front, were severely tested, and at times in the first half it appeared like trench warfare. Although Kirwan will be concerned at the handling & poor kicking (both field position and up & under's) in the first half, which in part helped Harbour dominate. Alisi Tupauailei was a handful all game, but started to really bust us up big time after Brendan Watt left the field. I was also impressed with the diminutive, but tough halfback Fumiaki Tanaka.

High Points for Harbour:

• The outstanding play of several individuals - Matt Luamanu, Michael Mayhew, Shane Neville, Scott Uren, Brendon Watt and Jack Tarrant. Not saying the other players played badly, because they didn't, these guys just appeared to me to be exceptional on the day.
• Support play within the team, after only 6 full practice sessions (according to the TV commentators), was outstanding.
• Not only did the three Mayhew brothers (Richard, Michael & Nick) play in the same match, a first for Harbour, but they played the last 4-5 minutes together as Michael came back on for the injured Filo Paulo.
• The try line defence in the last 5-10 minutes. Awesome effort.
• Post match interview technique - Michael Reid & Richard Mayhew gave better that the usual "game of 2 halves" interviews, although both were close to being plonked in the work on's section. NB: Probably not the first, or last, time the Mayhew's will be referred to as disasters.

Work Ons:

• Kicking from the base of the scrum/ruck - 2 charge downs and several poor kicks.
• Decision making when the back 3 received the ball from kicks - choosing whether to kick or run the ball was often poor, this either the kick being poor, or running with little/no support.
• Kick off receptions. Missed the first 3, but luckily the Japan team.
• Finishing off teams. Yes this was an international side, and we made wholesale changes at halftime, but still we need to kill teams off. How you practice is how you perform.
• The throwing into the lineout in the second half was a little inaccurate.

Most of the above are accuracy things, and these should come right with more training & time as a team. I mean you can't go 9 months of the year hating the other clubs and then instantly gel as a cohesive unit. The players in the squad for this game appear to have taken a step up from last year, and if they continue to build accordingly, and we stay relatively injury free, some of those close losses from last year should end up being wins. Add in the experience of 2 recent All Blacks (Luke McAlister and Rudi Wulf) + SBW (yeah right!) and there is lads to be excited about. Roll on the ITM Cup.

Thanks
Alistair