Angus Middleton, with ball, returns to the starting lineup at flanker for the top of the table clash with King Country in Te Kuiti on Saturday.
Angus Middleton, with ball, returns to the starting lineup at flanker for the top of the table clash with King Country in Te Kuiti on Saturday.
Compared to 2017, about the only thing similar about Steelform Wanganui's crucial Mitre 10 Heartland clash with King Country tomorrow is likely to be the warm weather.
It was a perfect day for running rugby at Cooks Gardens last October for the inaugural clash for the 'Pinetree Log' - the Sir Colin Meads Memorial Trophy – and Wanganui made the most of it with 13 tries in an 80-3 destruction of their far neighbours.
But the Te Kuiti based union has rung in the changes with new coaches and fresh players, and it has paid off going into the rematch for the Pinetree Log on the back on an undefeated campaign in 2018.
Ironically, the giant spectre of Sir Colin still hangs over these clashes, which last year aside, have always been competitive.
Legend has it Meads once decreed that King Country should never play Wanganui at their closer secondary home ground of Owen Delany Park in Taupo, which bears some resemblance to Cooks Gardens.
"I do remember playing once at Taupo, but they're very few and far between," said Wanganui coach Jason Caskey.
The weather report for Saturday in Te Kuiti, where Rugby Park is nestled down in the valley, is for humid conditions, with Caskey preparing to have plenty of water on the sidelines.
King Country are likely to bring the heat themselves.
Under coach Craig Jefferies and his assistants Charles Hubbard and Glynn Meads, King Country destroyed East Coast 75-17, travelled across the South Island to beat Buller 30-28 in the dying moments, held back North Otago 22-18 and last weekend got away from their other neighbours Thames Valley 39-29.
"It's new coaches this year and that has helped," said Caskey when asked about the turnaround from a side that didn't even make the Lochore Cup playoffs last season.
"A few new players as well, but it looks like things are geling for them.
"Line speed on defence, and put the pressure on, similar to what we do.
"It's one of those games where if we get four [competition] points we're bloody happy."
Winger Alex Thrupp was a two year loan player from Waikato, but has now made King Country his home with the Waitomo club, while outside back Dean Church, lock Rob Sherson and halfback Zayn Tipping have given Wanganui problems before and form the core of the leadership group.
Coming down from Waikato this season on loan are Haami Martin, Joe Perawiti, Jacob Ale and Tallis Kariatianna.
The Pinetree Log, as first held by Wanganui co-captains Cole Baldwin and Roman Tutauha at Cooks Gardens in 2017.
Despite this, Caskey is happy to keep going with rotations, although when it comes to the front row it could be said he is going back to the first-stringers with Viki Tofa returning and Kamipeli Latu promoted back off the bench ahead of Wiremu Cottrell, with Gabriel Hakaraia stepping down this week.
"We've been pretty lucky, they've all been playing pretty well," said Caskey.
"Viki hasn't had much game time with his work, so we're giving him a start this week.
"Defensively, I think he'll be suited to the game."
Countering King Country's style is also why Angus Middleton again gets the coveted No 7 jumper ahead of Jamie Hughes in another swap between the two talented loose forwards.
"There's bugger-all between them," said Caskey.
"Angus probably going to offer more suited to what we want against King Country."
Also possibly coming straight back into the starting lineup is Kameli Kuruyabaki, who along with Ethan Robinson is bracketed with the current midfielders in Penijamini Nabainivalu and Kaveni Dabenaise as injury cover.
