Bush newbies put to test

LOCK: Gareth van Dalen.

One statistic stands out when you peruse the composition of the Wairarapa-Bush rugby side to play Horowhenua-Kapiti in a non-championship rugby match at Featherston tomorrow - just five of last year's Heartland squad are part of the starting line-up.

On the face of it, that is a clean-out of massive proportions, especially when you consider Wairarapa-Bush made it all the way to the Meads Cup semis in 2013.

In reality though, it is pretty much what was expected simply because of the vast number of players unavailable for selection, either because of injury or other commitments.

So many we do not have the space to list them all, but how about this for starters, from among those who have been appearing on the club scene this season - Byron Karaitiana, Cameron Hayton, Inia Katia, Tapaga Isaac, Sam Marshall-Wilson, Andrew McLean, James Goodger and Tana Isaac.

All would have been virtual certainties to make the squad, and the same could probably be said of talented Greytown youngsters Regan Pope and Teihana Brown, whose injury hassles are bad enough for head coach Mark Rutene and his assistant Paddy Gough to leave them off their list with the proviso they could be added if their situations improve over the next 48 hours.

Up front, there are only three players who could be considered experienced campaigners in the representative area, prop Kurt Simmonds, hooker Richard Puddy and blindside flanker Johnnie McFadzean. An acquisition to the Carterton club in South African Heinrich "Olly" Terblanche will complete the front row, a couple of newbies, Kieran O'Brien (Marist) and Gareth van Dalen (Greytown), will be at lock, and the same tag can be given openside flanker Rima Murutai (Pioneer) and No8 Hamish Walker (Eketahuna).

The good news in the backline is that East Coast's Zeb Aporo is over his injury problems and will start at halfback. Pairing for the first time in the five-eighths will be Sam Monaghan (Eketahuna) and Michael Te Whare (Marist) and at centre will be another newcomer, Robbie Anderson (Eketahuna). He is a versatile player who has repped for Canterbury Country as a first-five. Cory Carmichael, formerly of Wanganui and now with Carterton, will debut on one wing and Paul Tikomainavalu (Eketahuna) will be on the other. At fullback will be Nick Olson (East Coast).

For Rutene the unusually high number of players playing at this level for the first time means tomorrow's game has become a trial to see who has the physical and mental capabilities to successfully take the step up to Heartland championship play. "You couldn't fault the enthusiasm at training but, yes, it is difficult to know what to expect.

"It's going to be interesting."