Rugby
Eketahuna flanker Johan Van Vliet will skipper Wairarapa-Bush in their rugby match with United States Collegians at Memorial Park next Wednesday but it doesn't necessarily mean he will keep the job for the rest of the 2013 season.
Head coach Mark Rutene said yesterday there were "two or three" options for captaincy leading into the Heartland championship campaign and it was likely they would also be given the chance to stake their claim.
"Right now, we are looking at the captaincy on a game-to-game basis. It's something we need to get right and we're not going to rush things," Rutene said.
Wairarapa-Bush was well served in the leadership role by Greytown prop Kurt Simmonds last year but complications with an arm injury suffered in the Meads Cup semifinal loss to Wanganui in the last match has sidelined him for all this season.
While Van Vliet has always been regarded as the likely successor to Simmonds after making a good fist of the captaincy on the few occasions he was elevated to that role in 2012, Rutene won't want to detract from his importance to the side in the No 7 jersey. Therefore the onus will be on Van Vliet to show he has the capability to handle the responsibilities of captaincy while still performing at a high level in general play.
Talented as he is, there is also the question of whether Van Vliet will be a regular starter for Wairarapa-Bush, as there is no shortage of classy loose forwards vying for representative selection this season. James Goodger, Nathan Iro, Rimataei Marurai, Johnie McFadzean, Joss Tua-Davidson and Rupeni Tamani are names which easily come to mind and that doesn't include Wellington "import" Tom Fleming, who made such a good impression last year.
The stocks at lock and front row are not quite so impressive. The loss of consistent Andrew McLean at lock is a huge blow and there are serious doubts as to whether Dan Griffin, who has been in such fine form for Eketahuna, will be available for the union. Missing too from next Wednesday's game because of injury will be Englishman Tom Dixon, who has looked handy in his few appearances for Carterton, and that leaves Lachie McFadzean, Sam Marshall-Wilson and Clark Butcher as the leading contenders for the Collegians fixture.
The loss of Simmonds at prop also leaves a big gap and the situation isn't helped by Wilba Davies also struggling with injury. Ben Pereira would have probably been first choice at hooker for the Collegians match but he has already indicated his unavailability for that game, and it seems Jamie Hunt has taken himself out of the reckoning as well. Promising Pioneer rake Eruera Henare could get his chance to impress against Collegians, as could Eketahuna's Campbell Lawrence and Gladstone's Richard Puddy, while the shortage of experienced props might force Rutene to look further afield for reinforcements in that position.
In the backs, it is likely prolific-scoring first-five Glen Walters will miss Wednesday's game along with promising Greytown clubmate, midfielder Teihana Brown, who is on the injured list.
But it could be a chance for Rutene to unleash the attacking skills of Fijian midfielder Paula Tikomainaivalu, a recruit to Masterton after starring for Poverty Bay in the Heartland championship last season.
Prospects also are that Inia Katia and Zeb Aporo will be contending for the halfback berth against Collegians now Cody Whittaker is out injured and Tipene Haira seems sure to step in for Walters at No 10. Other backs likely to be in the running for starting roles are Tapaga Isaac, Michael Te Whare, Tavita Isaac, Cameron Hayton, Nathan Hunt and Nick Olson.