Pongaroa clash pivotal to 2010 squad

Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Kelvin Tantrum has an open mind on just how many players he will name in an extended training squad after the match between Wairarapa and Bush sub-unions at Pongaroa on Queen's Birthday Monday.
''It could be 25, it could be 30. It just depends how many show they actually deserve to be there,'' Tantrum said yesterday. ''Nothing is set in concrete, we'll just wait and see what happens''
Also being considered by Tantrum and his assistant coach Neil Foote is the possibility of including some of the region's most promising talent in the squad, even though they have might have missed selection for either the Wairarapa or Bush teams.
''Developing the skills of these players is important and having them work alongside the more experienced campaigners would certainly be a plus in that respect,'' Tantrum said.
Among youngsters who have shown the sort of ability at club level to warrant consideration would be halfbacks Cody Whittaker (Carterton) and Matt O'Connor (East Coast), Masterton Red Star winger Joe Dahlberg-Paku, Marist outside backs Daniel Blong and Shannon Lewis and Marist hooker Liam Wilson.
A notable omission in the Wairarapa line-up named in yesterday's Times-Age was Carterton lock Tomasi Kedrabuka, who has been such an integral part of the Heartland championship side for several seasons now.
Tantrum said he was more than happy with Kedrabuka's form on the club scene, but the Fijian had made himself unavailable for the Pongaroa match and was still debating whether he would be available for Wairarapa-Bush as the 2010 season unfolds.
While Kedrabuka's athleticism at lineout time and his mobility would be missed, the depth at lock has improved markedly this year, with Eketahuna's Daniel Griffin back in action after missing last season through injury and Andrew McLean (Gladstone), Brandon Young (Eketahuna) and Corey Reid (Marist) all showing good form for their respective clubs.
Tantrum is happy with the depth of talent available in most positions, although he is quick to emphasise the huge difference in standard between club and representative play.
''You will always get the players who star for their clubs but don't have the skills or the mindset to go any higher,'' he said, adding that the Pongaroa match would help single out those who could and those who couldn't. ''Just how many fall by the wayside will be interesting,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Bush coach Graeme Cheetham named his squad yesterday and it includes 14 Eketahuna and 12 Puketoi players. The squad is: Jesse Williams, Brandon Young, Daniel Griffin, Rupeni Temani, Pita Tua-Davidson, Crete Cribb, Brendon Walker, Mata Mataitini, Greg Harding, Jacob Tipene, Campbell Lawrence,Paul Carter, Daniel Udy, Grant Cremen (Eketahuna); Jared Bambry, Duncan Law, Jason Liverton, Simon Finnie. Evan Small, Jared Brock, Lewis Small, Glen Archibald, Stefan Kunde, Hamish Walker, Richard Perry, Ben White (Puketoi).