Wai-Bush brace for forwards battle

HOLD ON: Cody Whittaker looks certain to fill the halfback role against North Otago. PHOTO/FILE

WAIRARAPA-Bush is gearing up for a torrid forward battle in their Heartland championship rugby match with North Otago at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday.

Head coach Josh Syms and his assistant, Wayne Roache, are seriously considering having five forwards and just two backs on the reserves bench to confront opposition which is expected to place considerable emphasis on gaining ascendancy up front.

"We think this is one game where a five-two split could actually make good sense," Syms said yesterday. "Having that extra pair of fresh legs in the forwards could come in very handy late in the game."

The versatility in the Wairarapa-Bush backline would make such a move less dangerous than what it normally might be. For instance, Inia Katia is likely to understudy Cody Whittaker at halfback but he is quite capable of slotting in on the wing or at fullback as well. Matt Dalley and Paul Tikomainavalu are proven in midfield and on the wing and Nick Olson has form in practically every backline role other than first-five.

Syms and Roache will confirm their starting line-up tomorrow. So far, they have named a 23-man squad to prepare for the game and Syms admits that deciding on the 15 to initially take the field has caused some "nice headaches" for he and Roache.

"It's good to have keen competition for places and we've got plenty of that."

It seems a safe bet, however, to assume that the majority of those who initially took the field in the 36-9 win over Thames Valley in the Heartland opener last weekend will be given first crack of the whip up front. Prop Kurt Simmonds and Andrew Makalio would be near-certainties in the front row with Matt Kawana likely to edge out Jacko Hull for the second propping berth,

The make-up of the middle row and the three loose forwards will largely depend on where the multi-talented James Goodger will be played. He shared the locking role with Lachie McFadzean in Gisborne and they combined so effectively Syms and Roache might be loathe to move Goodger to the blindside flanker position which does seem to suit his skills best.

From all accounts, the loose forward trio of Brendon Campbell, Chris Raymond and So'otala Fa'oso'o were also grand value in Gisborne so they could be retained too although they are under pressure from the likes of Johnie McFadzean and Rima Marurai, both of whom were not considered for last weekend's fixture.

In the backs it's hard to imagine Cody Whittaker not starting at halfback or Tim Priest at first-five and the midfield spots will likely again go to Andy Humberstone and Viliami Hala. There were some question marks over Tipene Haira being selected on the wing against Poverty Bay but he answered those and should be retained, which would leave Nick Olson, Dalley, Tikomainavalu and Cameron Hayton all vying for the other roles.