Rugby: Whanganui 31 to one and drifting

Whanganui management , manager Chris Back (left), coach Jason Caskey and assistant coach Jason Hamlin, faced a real conundrum selecting its Ranfurly Shield challenge team to play Canterbury.

Steelform Wanganui know they are up against it when they run onto the field in Christchurch tonight, but are spurred on by the fact it is for Ranfurly Shield glory.

The Butcher boys meet Mitre 10 side Canterbury and are expecting fast-paced action unfamiliar to the Heartland division they are used to playing and winning in.

Assistant coach Jason Hamblin said the team would be without talented blindside flanker Campbell Hart who suffered groin strain in club competition at the weekend, while promising youngster Cody Hemi was ruled out after breaking his jaw in last week's disastrous warm-up match against Manawatu Evergreens. Whanganui lost 52-7 after being totally out-paced and out-skilled.

Longtime Whanganui and New Zealand Heartland captain Peter Rowe is also under an injury cloud after straining a calf muscle in club rugby at the weekend, while reserve hooker Roman Tutauha has a bruised thigh.

"Peter is in the starting line-up, but Cole Baldwin will come on as captain and Taione Ratu will come in as replacement for Campbell," Hamlin said.

The 23-man squad and starting line-up was dependednt on players coming through their final training session at Cook Gardens last night.

Old hand and former Heartland Player of the Year, Lindsay Horrocks will be the starting halfback, although Whanganui has a strong back-up with Samoa A and Pirates' halfback Fa'aele Iosua on the bench.

Horrocks was carted off to hospital last week during the Evergreen game to have stiches in his nose and Iosua made an immediate impact as replacement. Speedier delivery from scrums and breakdowns is one of his main attributes.

"Our focus since the Evergreens last week has been on slowing opposition ball down. We struggled with the faster pace and it's not going to be any slower against Canterbury.

However, going in as such underdogs does take pressure off and you never know how much players can rise to the occasion when it comes to Ranfurly Shield. It's not something that comes along every season, although we've been lucky the last few," Hamlin said.

Whanganui was in the game for a long way agaisnt Waikato last year, but the circumstances are very different this time round.

"Our challenge last year was at the end of the club season and the start of training for Heartland rugby, but we have the pressure on this time getting combinations ready when it's just coming to the meaty end of the club season. It's a real balancing act."

Hamlin saw the humour from the couch experts when they suggest Whanganui cannot effectively be beaten given the Canterbury line-up.

The Canterbury brains trust (inside backs) to marshal the southern troups included a strong Whanganui and district flavour starting with Taihape-born and raised captain and halfback Jack Stratton. Starting outside Stratton in the 10 jersey is Canterbury debutante Brett Cameron and centre Poasa Waqanibau both from Whanganui. And then there is elusive lock or loose forward Jono Osborne on the bench.

No Super Rugby players from the Crusaders are inlcuded in the Canterbury line-up that in fact, features 10 of the 23-man squad on debut for the team.

Hamlin said whatever the outcome tonight, Whanganui fans can rest assured the Butcher boys will have given their all.

Whanganu line-up:
1. Viki Tofa
2. Cole Baldwin (C)
3. Hamish Mellow
4. Sam Madams
5. Sokonaia Kalou
6. Taione Ratu
7. Peter Rowe
8. Bryn Hudson
9. Lindsay Horrocks
10. Craig Clare
11. Kaveni Dabenaise
12. Timoci Seruwalu
13. Cameron Crowley
14. Samu Kubunavanua
15. Ace Malo
RESERVES:
16. Roman Tutauha
17. Karl Parker
18. Sam Dawson
19. Ranato Tikoisolomone
20. Jamie Hughes
21. Fa'aele Iosua
22. Dane Whale
23. Simon Dibben
Canterbury line-up:
1. Chris Gawler
2. Nick Werahiko
3. Oliver Jager
4. Mitchell Dunshea
5. Hamish Dalzell
6. Sam Godwin* (VC)
7. Billy Harmon
8. Dylan Nel
9. Jack Stratton (C)
10. Brett Cameron*
11. Marshall Suckling
12. Michael Green
13. Poasa Waqanibau
14. Ngane Punivai*
15. Mark Maitland*
RESERVES:
16. Feleti Kaitu'u*
17. Joel Hintz*
18. Jack Straker*
19. Jonathan Osborne*
20. JJ Manning
21. Steve Alfeld
22. Finn Strawbridge*
23. Caleb Makene*
*denotes debut