Forwards can expect tough time against East Coast: Tantrum

Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Kelvin Tantrum says complacency won't be an issue when his side fronts up to East Coast in a Heartland championship pool match at Ruatoria tomorrow.
Tantrum's confidence is based on the fact his players only have to look back one week to understand hot favouritism counts for nothing when the chips are down.
"Look what we did to Wanganui last Saturday, noone gave us a chance beforehand but we came up trumps . East Coast are in exactly the same position this time, aren't they?" he said."They are at home for the first time and will be intending to throw everything they've got at us ....sounds familiar doesn't it."
Tantrum admits to having scant knowledge of the individual talents of the East Coast side but he has done his home work on their defeats by Wanganui and Buller, noting in each case they were still well in the game at halftime only to have the score blow out in the second spell.
And that has him thinking a slight change of tactics from those applied against Wanganui could be beneficial to Wairarapa-Bush on this occasion.
" I think we need to be a little more expansive in how we use the ball," he said. "They (East Coast) are probably not as fit as us and running them around a bit makes sense.".
At the same time, however, Tantrum is mindful of the importance of the Wairarapa-Bush forwards displaying the same commitment in the tighter exchanges as they did against Wanganui.
He expects East Coast, with their bulky pack, to place huge emphasis on the rolling maul and the "pick and go" and says Wairarapa-Bush will be in trouble if they don't "muscle up" in those areas.
"Physically it's going to be tough day at the office for the forwards and we need to them to front up," Tantrum said. "If we lose that battle we could be in trouble".
There is just the one change in the Wairarapa-Bush pack from that which initially took the field against Wanganui with Tomasi Kedrabuka replacing Corey Reid at lock The versatile Reid will, however, still be part of the starting line-up, this time on the blindside flank in place of Joss-Tua-Davidson.
Omitting Tua-Davidson will no doubt have raised a few eyebrows because of the excellence of his form against Wanganui-and indeed all season- but with four "loan players" in the squad and only three allowed to play someone had to go and he is it.
In the backline too there is just the one change, Junior Togia returning to the wing and relegating Tommy Harmon to the reserves as a consequence.
Togia is arguably the most dangerous attacker in the Wairarapa-Bush squad- fullback Nick Olson being the only challenger- and he will be relishing the thought of the ball being moved around more tomorrow As will be his fellow wing Heemi Tupaea and centre Siaosi Anamani, the latter having made a particular impression in his few appearances to date with his ability to break open opposition defences with forceful running.
A win with the maximum five points for Wairarapa-Bush tomorrow would obviously enhance their prospects of making it to the Meads Cup playoffs, a loss would be a major step in the wrong direction as far as that is concerned.
A situation which, in itself, should be enough incentive for Wairarapa-Bush to bring the bacon home.
Meantime the Wairarapa-Bush Bs and under-20 teams will play at Memorial Park tomorrow,the Bs against Wellington Maori Development at 2.30pm and the under-20s against Horowhenua-Kapiti at 1pm.