New look backline to take the field

A new-look backline will take the field for Wairarapa-Bush in their rugby match with Central Hawke's Bay to be played under lights in Waipukurau tomorrow night.
Only three of the backs were in the starting line-up against New Zealand Defence Forces last week and they will all have a different jersey number on this occasion, Jason Kjestrup moving to first-five from fullback, Heemi Tupaea from centre to fullback and Sam Mitchell from second-five to centre.
Joining them in the rearguard will be Wellington "import" Nick Risdon at halfback, Tommy Harmon at second-five and Rob Atkinson and Rupeni Temani on the wings.
Harmon, Atkinson and Temani all did get time on the paddock against the Defence Forces but for Risdon tomorrow's game will be his debut for the combined unions. He lacks nothing on the score of experience though, having played for Wellington B and Buller as well as having a stint the UK
The only change in the Wairarapa-Bush pack from that which started in last week's season opener, won by the locals 26-3, is at hooker where Richard Puddy, the regular understudy to the then skipper Joe Harwood last season, has been preferred ahead of Willie Leota.
Coach Kelvin Tantrum said nothing sinister should be read into the make-up of tomorrow night's side as the intention always was to move combinations around for the two "friendlies" leading into the Ranfurly Shield challenge fixture against Wellington at Memorial Park on Thursday, July 2.
"No one from last week's team has been axed or sacked or anything like that, it's just a matter of giving others a chance to show what they can do," Tantrum said.
"We're still at the stage where experimentation is a necessity, nothing is set in concrete yet."
Perhaps the most scrutinised aspect of the Waipukurau game for Wairarapa-Bush from a positional viewpoint will be the form of the inside back combination of Risdon and Kjestrup, who have been given the nod ahead of Zeb Aporo and Byron Karaitiana. The latter pairing generally chose their options well in dreadful weather conditions against the Defence Forces and it will be interesting to see whether Risdon and Kjestrup can make the same impact tomorrow night. In Karaitiana's absence Kjestrup will also become the first string goalkicker.
Interesting too will be the partnership of Harmon and Mitchell in the midfield. Mitchell has already been confirmed as vice-captain of the Wairarapa-Bush squad this season and is a near certainty for the Shield challenge but Harmon will be wanting to make every post a winner tomorrow night to keep his name in the frame. He was full of vim and vigour when he came off the bench against the Defence Forces and having the equally hard-running Mitchell outside him should bring out the best in him again.
Wingers Atkinson and Temani had few chances to stretch their legs in the limited game time they had against the Defence Forces and they too will be desperate to strut their stuff, especially with the knowledge that players of the calibre of Junior Togia (not available for the first two games) and Nick Olson are still very much in the running for the Shield match.
Coach Tantrum sees Central Hawke's Bay, who successfully defended the Bebbington Shield when they defeated Northern Wanganui 23-5 on Queen's Birthday Monday, as likely to provide stiffer opposition than a Defences Forces side who were without some of their key players.
And he wonders how his players will cope with playing under lights, something which will be a "first" for many of them. "It's not going to be any walk in the park, that's for sure." he said.
THE WAIRARAPA-BUSH TEAM FOR TOMORROW NIGHT IS: Heemi Tupaea; Rob Atkinson, Sam Mitchell, Tommy Harmon, Rupeni Temani; Jason Kjestrup; Nick Risdon; Duncan Law; Jared Hawkins, Andrew McLean, Brandon Young, Joss Tua-Davidson; Brett Rudman, Richard Puddy, Kurt Simmonds (captain). Reserves: Jordan Watene, Nick Olson, Byron Karaitiana, Zeb Aporo, Willie Leota, Nick Beavon, Jared Shelvock, Andrew Compain, Nathan Rolls.