SAFE HANDS: Wairarapa-Bush coach Mark Rutene has confidence in Cameron Hayton's aerial skills. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD
SAFE HANDS: Wairarapa-Bush coach Mark Rutene has confidence in Cameron Hayton's aerial skills. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD
The switching of Cameron Hayton from wing to fullback is the main talking point in the Wairarapa-Bush starting line-up for their Heartland Championship Meads Cup semifinal match with North Otago at Oamaru tomorrow.
Hayton, who made the national Heartland squad as a winger last season, is no rookie in thefullback role and has been given the nod ahead of regular custodian Nick Olson, who drops into the reserves.
While he remains his team's best counter-attacker, Olson's form, especially on defence, has been mixed over the past couple of games and while the preference for Hayton will obviously raise a few eyebrows because of the risk factor for such an important assignment, it certainly does not fall into the "complete surprise" category.
Head coach Mark Rutene is confident Hayton has the skills to measure up. "He's good under the high ball, he's got a good boot and he has genuine speed when he joins the line ... I don't think there will be a problem," he said.
The decision to play Hayton at fullback means Nathan Hunt, who also made the national Heartland squad last year, will start on the wing along with the in-form Paul Tikomainavalu while Titapu Pairama-Lewington's recovery from injury sees him restored to a starting position in midfield where he will be partnered by Byron Karaitiana. Covering them in the reserves is Tapaga Isaac.
There was never a doubt Glen Walters would be at first-five but there were question marks over halfback where Zeb Aporo has been selected ahead of Inia Katia. Aporo's solidity was probably the deciding factor - that, and Katia's proven ability to make a positive impact when coming off the bench.
Up front the return of star flankers Johan Van Vliet and James Goodger from their injury hassles is a huge plus.
Goodger has not played for some six weeks but he was in such superb form before his broken cheekbone that his selection was practically guaranteed once he was pronounced fit to play, even allowing for the good impression made by Sam Marshall-Wilson since his absence. Completing the loose forward trio is Nathan Iro at No8 and while that was expected a fair case could have been made for Johnie McFadzean as well.
Having missed out as flanker, Marshall-Wilson then became an obvious contender to partner the other McFadzean, Lachie, in the middle row but Rutene and assistant coach Paddy Gough have gone with Clarke Butcher instead. His lineout skills might have been what gave him the edge although you can expect Marshall-Wilson, who is a more dangerous ball runner, to get his share of playing time as well.
The front row has Wellington loan players Jonathan Fuimaono and Finnbarr Kerr-Newell at prop and Richard Puddy at hooker and it will be interesting to see who replaces Puddy in the second half as Ben Pereira and Jamie Hunt have been bracketed in the reserves. Wairarapa-Bush's travelling arrangements today will test their stamina just about as much as the 80 minutes of the semifinal. They are flying out of Palmerston North on two flights, the first group arriving in Christchurch about three hours before the second. Then will follow a two-hour bus trip to Timaru, where they are staying overnight, accommodation at Oamaru, which is about an hour down the road, having been booked out through the All Blacks v Australia international being played in Dunedin on Saturday.
Coach Rutene is still convinced, however, that a second Heartland Championship win over North Otago this season - they won the preliminary round match 20-18 - is well within the capabilities of the Wairarapa-Bush squad.
