Wairarapa-Bush head coach Mark Rutene has stayed true to his word in the naming of his side for the non-championship rugby match against Horowhenua-Kapiti at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
Rutene has always said that form and fitness would be given priority over reputation for the game which will be the curtain-raiser to the Hurricanes v Rebels Super 15 fixture and that has clearly been the case.
"It's fair to say two or three have missed out because we have not been completely happy with their fitness levels," Rutene said. "Recent tests have shown they still have work to do in that area and hopefully they will respond positively to that challenge."
There are several talking points in the composition of the Wairarapa-Bush backline, foremost of which will be the naming of Nathan Hunt on the wing. He is a recent acquisition to the Martinborough club after earning himself a glowing reputation as a try scorer in Western Australia and Rutene was impressed enough by what he saw of him in Martinborough's win over East Coast on Saturday to call him into the representative squad.
"I'd say he would be one of the quickest players we have had on the wings for a good while and he looks to have the smarts to go with it," Rutene said.
Combining in the five-eighths will be Byron Karaitiana (East Coast) and Tapaga Isaac (Greytown), two experienced campaigners who were not part of the Heartland championship action last season. In fact, it was in 2007 when Isaac last wore the Wairarapa-Bush colours. He has not long returned to this area after a successful stint across the Tasman and Rutene expects him to make a big impact with his assertiveness on attack and defence.
Injury seriously disrupted Karaitiana's appearances on the club scene last year but he has been in good touch for East Coast in recent weeks and has been given the nod for the No 10 jersey over the promising Tipene Haira (Pioneer).
Two newcomers to the Gladstone club in Cameron Hayton and Guy Wood have both made the starting line-up, Hayton on the wing and Wood at fullback. Hayton always appealed as a likely first stringer but Wood's selection ahead of Nick Olson (East Coast) will create some debate.
In the forwards, Jamie Hunt (Bush Sports) has been rewarded for excellent club form by securing the hooker's berth and the McFadzean brothers from Carterton have earned their spots for similar reasons, Lachie at lock and John at No 8. Kurt Simmonds (Greytown) will captain the side from prop.
The full squad is: Guy Wood; Nathan Hunt, Jesse McGilvary, Tapaga Isaac, Cameron Hayton; Byron Karaitiana; Matt O'Connor; Johnnie McFadzean; Johan Van Vliet, Andrew McLean, Lachie McFadzean, James Goodger; Kurt Simmonds, Jamie Hunt, Wilba Davies. Reserves: Inia Katia, Damian Kamo-Paku, Nick Olson, Richard Puddy, Dylan Higgison, Sam Marshall-Wilson, Rupeni Tamani, Tipene Haira, Rangi Wolland.