Show us some toe? Russell says to backs

Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Peter Russell wants his backs to make a positive statement in the Heartland championship top six play-off match with Horowhenua-Kapiti at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
Of the 12 tries scored by Wairarapa-Bush during their five wins in as many pool games, the backs have scored just four with winger Francis Seumanutata responsible for three of them, and fellow winger Junior Togia the other.
Conversely, six forwards have managed to be amongst the try scorers, flanker Sam Henderson and Albertus Buckle having two apiece and Joe Harwood, Sylvanus Iro, Mike Spence and Tomasi Kedarabuka all having one.
But, as has been the norm in recent seasons, the major points scorer for Wairarapa-Bush has been first-five Patrick Rimene whose 11 penalty goals and nine conversions have produced 51 points to date.
Russell believes there are two main reasons for the lack of tries from the backs, the defensive strategies of the opposition and a tendency to be too predictable in their attacking ploys.
Nothing has exemplified more the homework done on opposing teams these days than the constant "double teaming" on Wairarapa-Bush midfield backs Nathan Couch and Simanu Simanu, who were such a potent attacking force in the side's highly successful NPC third division campaign last season.
A campaign which, interestingly enough, culminated in a 28-23 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in the grand final.
Couch and Simanu have often found not one, but two, defenders breathing down their necks whenever they are in close vicinity of the ball and while they have still managed to break the advantage line on the odd occasion, their influence on attack has been nothing like what it was a year ago.
There are though benefits for Wairarapa-Bush in the attention being paid Couch and Simanu in that the concentration on keeping them under wraps provides more opportunity for their outsides to demonstrate their attacking wares.
And coach Russell concedes that Wairarapa-Bush need to take greater advantage of that situation.
"We have pace on the wings and at fullback and we haven't utilised that as well as we should have," he said.
"We've been inclined to rely too much on the midfield to provide the initial thrust and that's played into the hands of the opposition."
Russell believes too that Wairarapa-Bush could benefit by being more patient in the build up to their attacks..
"We have probably been moving too much ball from first phase and that has made it easier for the defence to close us down," he said. "If we went another two or three phases the number of defenders would be reduced and that's what we need to work towards."
Russell knows Wairarapa-Bush will go into Saturday's game as firm favourites with their five wins from five games record in pool A play being superior to that of Horowhenua-Kapiti who finished third in pool B, beating South Canterbury (20-12) and Poverty Bay (32-31), losing to Wanganui (3-46) and Thames Valley (21-22) and drawing with King Country (23-23).
But he is mindful that Horowhenua-Kapiti gave Wairarapa-Bush a decent hurry-up in last year's third division final and that, on their day, they can be a very difficult side to contain.
And then there is the fact that competition points from pool games have been carried over into the top six play-offs and Horowhenua-Kapiti, which are currently nine points behind Wairarapa-Bush, will be going into Saturday's game with the knowledge that a loss could end any aspirations they have of making the semi-finals.
"They have plenty to play for and I'm sure they will throw everything they have got at us," Russell said.
"There won't be any lack of endeavour on their part, that's for sure."
Russell has made two changes to his starting line-up from that which initially took the field in the 20-19 win over Mid-Canterbury at Ashburton last Saturday.
Wing Francis Seumanutata has recovered from his back strain and will be back on deck, a move which will see Peato Lafaele return to fullback and Duncan Rutherford on the reserve bench.
The other change is at prop where Albertus Buckle will start ahead of Brett Rudman in a move prompted by the stockiness of the Horowhenua-Kapiti front row, a fact which could see the equally stocky Buckle in his element at scrum time.
Saturday's game will be controlled by Canterbury's Josh Noonan who impressed the Wairarapa-Bush camp with his rulings in their game with Mid-Canterbury last weekend.
Meanwhile the Wairarapa-Bush senior B rugby side made no race of their match with their Horowhenua-Kapiti counterparts last weekend, scoring 10 tries and winning by a massive 71-5.
Coach Steve Thompson was delighted with the ease at which the hard-running Wairarapa-Bush backs consistently opened up the opposition defence with Joji Tamani, who scored three tries, Ben Couch and Phillip Aporo invariably leading the way. The pick of the forwards were Stacey Grant and Steve Wilkinson.
The B's gained a taste of international rugby at the Rugby Institute in Palmerston North last night when they played a "friendly" against a Korean side which has been in camp there.