Wellington?s pace will test Wairarapa-Bush

Even allowing for the inexperience of their opposition Wairarapa-Bush will start underdogs in their annual Jimmy Cotter Memorial trophy rugby match with Wellington at Memorial Park, Masterton tomorrow.
The fact Wellington have not selected any of their first stringers and are using the game as an opportunity to blood promising young talent would normally provide at least a glimmer of hope that Wairarapa-Bush could "steal" a victory,
But with the Wairarapa-Bush side itself containing only a handful of players who were part of their Heartland championship winning team last season it's difficult to imagine that happening.
Nothing is likely to test the Wairarapa-Bush players more than the pace of the game. What they experience on a weekly basis here is probably two or three notches down from that in the capital and the youthfulness of the Wellington squad suggests they will be quick to make the most of any advantage they have in that respect.
With that in mind it will be interesting to see what tactics are adopted by new Wairarapa-Bush coaches Graham Cheetham and Lofty Stevenson.
Their talk leading into tomorrow's match has revolved around an attacking approach aimed to giving their outside backs the chance to demonstrate their wares but for that to happen the forwards will need to provide a steady stream of quality possession, and whether they can do that against what will be a tall and agile Wellington pack is the $64,000 question.
In the lineouts and scrums, especially, the physicality of Wairarapa-Bush will be placed under the microscope and old hands like Brent Rudman, Brendan Walker and Tomasi Kedarabuka will need to lead the way in those vital balling winning departments.
It will be important too that the Wairarapa-Bush loosies have a big impact on proceedings, not only in attacking forays but with the tightness of their defence around the fringes of the rucks and mauls.
Here too it will be an old hand who will be expected to set the example, in this case Mike Spence.
How strange it will be to see a Wairarapa-Bush side take the field without a McKenzie, Bruce, Rimene or Couch (Nathan) as part of their inside back combination.
It is there that matches are often won and lost for that is where the main playmakers are invariably positioned and how the likes of Zeb Aporo, Daryl Pollock, Jason Liverton, Matt Easton and John Guillard rise to the occasion will be carefully scrutinised with an eye to the future.
This is a royal opportunity for them to show they have what it takes to succeed at a higher level.
If the inside backs do function smoothly then in centre Simanu Simanu and wing Jorgi Tamani Wairarapa-Bush have an experienced duo in their three-quarter line with the attacking capabilities to make their Wellington counterparts sit up and take notice.
Simanu, particularly, can be a devastating runner when given room to move and the safe bet is that if the Wairarapa-Bush backs are to make their presence felt it will be Simanu who is at the forefront of the action.
The Wairarapa-Bush squad named for tomorrow's match is:-
Backs: Zeb Aporo, Daryl Pollock, Matt Easton, Jason Liverton, Lima Lauvi, Lance Stevenson, John Guillard, Andrew Patrick, Simanu Simanu, George Williams, Jorji Tamani, Dan White, Ben Couch.
Forwards: Brent Rudman, Blair Gardner, Matthew Cox, Mosese Sela, Richard Puddy, Brendan Walker, Kurt Simmonds, Daniel Griffin, Jarrod Babmbry, Tomasi Kedarabuka, Cory Reid, Mike Spence, Josh Mackey, Reuben Daysh, Marcus Totman, Jarrod Hawkins.Nathan Rolls, Solly Alsop.
Meanwhile defending champions Carterton have put their 2007 campaign well and truly back on path after their 19-6 win over Eketahuna at Carterton on Saturday.
The maroons had posted their first win of the season only seven days ago and their victory over in form Eketahuna greatly increases their chances of making it through to the championship playoffs.
Jono Hurley was the hero for Carterton, kicking four penalties and one conversion while Justin Lett scored their solitary try.
Simanu Simanu managed two penalties for Eketahuna.
Greytown-Tuhirangi bounced back from their defeat by Eketahuna the previous weekend with a resounding 53-0 win over East Coast.
Nathan Iro scored two of the Greytown-Tuhirangi tries and others went to Rudman, Boyle, Kaiwai, Barron, Peterson, Tosswill and Isaac.
Marist too had a big win, defeating Masterton Red Star by 80-0 and scoring 11 tries in the process.
The hard-running Nuku scored three of them and was joined on the try sheet by Karaitiana, Balks, Aporo, Blonge, Ripene (2), Calkin and Couch.
Gladstone maintained their place at the top of the points table with a 33-0 win over Martinborough.
Easton, Crisp, Shaw and Ryland were the try scorers and Easton added two conversions and three penalties.
Pioneer had to battle hard for their 12-10 win over a gritty Puketoi. Fox and Te Whare scored tries for Pioneer and Rolls kicked a conversion.
Small scored a try for Pukertoi and Liverton kicked one conversion and one penalty.