Ioane outstanding but Harbour heroic

The Auckland No 8 set up one try, scored another but couldn’t stop his team losing a gripping Battle of the Bridge. David Long reports.

Akira Ioane gave the All Blacks’ selectors a timely reminder of his talents in last night’s Battle of the Bridge, but couldn’t stop North Harbour recording a memorable win over Auckland.

The No 8 may be in the All Blacks squad, but hasn’t yet played a test. He will go to Australia with the rest of Ian Foster’s squad today and was only expected to be a fringe player for the Tri-Nations.

However, the 25-year-old was at his brilliant best in Auckland’s 23-22 loss against North Harbour.

It was a tough Battle of the Bridge between these two provinces, with North Harbour dominating the second half and Bryn Gatland nailing all five of his shots at goal.

Plenty of Harbour players stood out, but so too did Ioane, released by Foster to increase his match fitness.

Ioane set up Auckland’s first try, scored their last, was a constant threat with ball in hand and impenetrable in defence. He’s sometimes criticised for disappearing in games, but he was everywhere at North Harbour Stadium.

How much this performance will improve Ioane’s chances of playing in the upcoming tests is something only the selectors will know, but there wasn’t anything more he could have done.

Harbour have improved over the season. After losing their first three games they defeated Tasman and Hawke’s Bay, before losing a close game against Wellington 25-20.

So they shouldn’t be treated lightly by anyone and are showing they’re no certainties for relegation to the Championship.

The Battle of the Bridge rivalry isn’t the fierce contest it once was. Taking All Blacks out of provincial rugby will do that to a competition. But this was still a game played with plenty of intensity.

Gatland gave Harbour the early lead, with a penalty in the sixth minute, but seven minutes later Ioane broke through a tackle, drew in another defender then passed the ball out wide to set AJ Lam up for the opening try.

Three minutes later Auckland were in again, with Tumua Manu finishing off, following prop James Lay’s breaching of the Harbour defence.

In the 20th minute Auckland’s Zarn Sullivan was sent to the bin for a tip tackle on Shaun Stevenson.

But Harbour struggled to make the most of their man advantage. Gatland did goal another penalty, but they was the only points Harbour gathered while Auckland were down to 14