Backs set to be cut loose

Rugby

Wairarapa-Bush should have a licence to attack in their rugby clash with United States Collegiate at Memorial Park, Masterton, today.

In what is their first serious hit-out for the 2013 season, there is every reason to expect fireworks from a backline blessed with players who are at their best when allowed to cut loose.

Even if their penchant for the running game is affected to some degree by the elements, and damp underfoot conditions, the prospect of outside backs like Cameron Hayton, Nathan Hunt and Nick Olson, all of whom have made national Heartland sides over the past two or three seasons, being given ample opportunity to stretch their legs is an exciting thought.

Hayton and Hunt are wingers with more than just a decent turn of foot. They both have the smarts to outwit defenders with tricky footwork while the enigmatic Olson at fullback has few equals when it comes to creating something out of nothing, invariably with a quick change of direction followed by rapid acceleration.

It is also in Wairarapa-Bush's favour that when any - if not all - of the back three are rested early in the second half that they will be replaced by players with similar attacking strengths, Tavita Isaac, Jordan Bennett-Davies and Ted Aurelieu, a Frenchman who is an acquisition to the Marist club. They will all be keen to make every post a winner to stay in the reckoning for Heartland selection further down the track.

With proven performers at rep level in Zeb Aporo and Inia Katia sharing the halfback duties and the reliable Glen Walters at first-five, the only question mark in the Wairarapa-Bush backline will be in midfield where Tapaga Isaac and Paul Tiko will be combining for the first time.

They are similar type players in that they are big and strong and more likely to run through defenders than around them and if they "click" they, too, will be a huge handful for the opposition defence.

Fijian Tiko (whose actual surname runs to many more letters than that) will have happy memories of Memorial Park, having run Wairarapa-Bush ragged when playing in the Poverty Bay colours last season. A similar effort today and a spot in the Heartland side will be his for the taking.

Up front Wairarapa-Bush are well served with players whose mobility is their greatest attribute. Captain Johan Van Vliet and James Goodger are undoubtedly two of the best flankers in any of the Heartland unions and at their most dangerous when roaming wide in support of their backs while the McFadzean brothers, Johnie at No8 and Lachie at lock, hooker Richard Puddy and reserve loosies Nathan Iro and Rimataei Marurai are also notable ball carriers.

As always, however, the prime job of the forwards will be to provide the quality possession which allows their rearguard free rein to attack and in that sense the efforts in the tighter exchanges of a group of relative newcomers in Campbell Lawrence, Clark Butcher, Hone Vella, Eruera Henare, Regan Pope and sole Wellington "import" Finbarr Kerr-Newall, will be carefully scrutinised with an eye to the future.

Little is known of the United States Collegiate side other than they have no shortage of size in their forwards and pace in their backs.

They will have the edge on Wairarapa-Bush in preparation and that factor alone should ensure they are competitive.

Tomorrow's main game kicks off at 2.30pm and will be preceded by a clash between the Kuranui College and Makoura College first XVs, which will start at 1pm.

Meanwhile, the Rathkeale College first XV have beaten Feilding High School 27-22 in a match played at Rathkeale. Henry Booth (2), Elliot Mason and Finn Yeats scored tries for Rathkeale and Josh Blatchford kicked one penalty and one conversion.