Three of their Wellington-based recruits had strong games as a Wairarapa-Bush XV scored a 20-7 win over the International Rugby Academy New Zealand XV in a rugby friendly played at the Institute of Sport in Palmerston North on Wednesday.
Prop Jon Fuimaono, midfield back Titapu Pairama-Lewington and fullback-cum-first-five Glen Waltersall did enough to suggest they could become valuable members of this season's Heartland championship squad, which will probably be named within the next fortnight.
Fuimaono used his bulk to telling effect in the scrums and general play, Pairama-Lewington demonstrated good communication skills and a stout defence and Walters appealed as an astute tactician never afraid to run the ball back at the opposition.
Apart from Fuimaono, other Wairarapa-Bush forwards to enhance their reputations were prop Kurt Simmonds, flanker James Goodger and No8 Jim Temoci, while Inia Katia added oomph to the attack when he joined the fray at halfback in the second half, Jesse McGilvary was his usual dependable self at centre and Nick Olson was lively on the wing.
Olson (2) and Katia scored the Wairarapa-Bush tries and Tipene Haiura added a conversion and a penalty.
Wairarapa-Bush head coach Mark Rutene was "fairly happy" with his team's performance, although he freely conceded the execution was not always as efficient as he would have liked.
"We did spoil a few decent scoring chances through rushing passes and spilling the ball but, overall, it was a good hit-out, just what we needed at this stage of the season."
Ace Wairarapa-Bush flanker Johan van Vliet was a star for what was a fit and mobile IRANZ side. He was at No8 and had a typically high work rate on attack and defence.
