Rugby
Wairarapa-Bush head coach Mark Rutene anticipates United States Collegians giving his team a decent workout in their rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton, tomorrow.
Rutene was an interested spectator when Collegians played a New Zealand Universities under-20 combination in Palmerston North over the weekend and, while they lost, he was impressed by the size of their forwards and the nippiness of their backs.
"Overall, they looked a pretty handy side. They obviously like to move the ball around and they've got plenty of pace out wide. They'll be a good test for us first up," said Rutene.
The Wairarapa-Bush squad contains some interesting new faces, one of whom, prop Finbar Newall, plays his club rugby in Wellington for Old Boys University, where he is under the guidance of Wairarapa-Bush assistant coach Paddy Gough.
Indications are that prop, in particular, could be a problem position for Rutene and Gough going into the 2013 Heartland championship campaign and a strong effort from Newall tomorrow could see him encouraged to stay on.
The loss through injury of ever-reliable Gladstone lock Andrew McLean left a big hole to fill in the middle row and being given their chance to stake early claims are East Coast's Clark Butcher and Carterton's Lachie McFadzean. The latter has worn the Wairarapa-Bush jersey before but this will be Butcher's debut after playing his rugby in the Canterbury area last year.
Butcher has the height to be a commanding figure at lineout time and it will be interesting to note the impact he makes in that department as well as in general play.
Who to start at No 8 was probably a toss-up between two of the form players in club rugby, Johnie McFadzean (Carterton) and Nathan Iro (Greytown), and while McFadzean got the nod it is safe to assume Iro will play most, if not all, of the second half.
A similar scenario is likely at halfback where Zeb Aporo (East Coast) will be ahead of Inia Katia (Gladstone) and the prolific scoring Glen Walters will be at first-five despite earlier talk he could be miss this game.
It is in midfield, however, where the major interest in the backline will lie. Combining for the first time will be Tapaga Isaac (Greytown) and former Poverty Bay centre Paula Tikomainaivalu, who has had a couple of games for Carterton without getting much opportunity to show his attacking flair.
An acquisition for Marist in Frenchman Ted Aurelian is in the reserves. He is a versatile player who could be given a run in midfield or at fullback. He has had little chance to demonstrate his attacking skills on the club scene but has impressed with the stoutness of his defence.
The Wairarapa-Bush squad is: Nick Olson; Nathan Hunt, Paula Tikomainaivalu, Tapaga Isaac, Cameron Hayton; Glen Walters; Zeb Aporo; Johnie McFadzean; Johan van Vliet (captain), Lachie McFadzean, Clark Butcher, James Goodger; Finbar Newall, Richard Puddy, Campbell Lawrence.
Reserves: Inia Katia, Jordan Bennett-Davies, Tavita Isaac, Ted Aurelian, Eruera Henjare, Hone Vella, Regan Pope, Nathan Iro, Rimataei Mururai.