The first look at Wanganui's representative team for season 2013 sees a very settled forward pack in front of a few young bolters in the backline among the starting lineup to face Wairarapa-Bush on Wednesday.
The 27-man team was announced yesterday by new selector-coaches Karl Hoskin and Danny Rolls and includes three new caps in the starting XV to defend the Bruce Steel Memorial Cup at Cooks Gardens.
Running out on debut will be 23-year-old Border halfback Lindsay Horrocks, the 20-year-old, 114kg Ruapehu goal-kicking centre Tautahi Rawiri and lightening Border winger Aaron Yadiga, 23 who was the top try scorer in Wanganui premier rugby last season with 11 tries and sits on eight in 2013.
There are eight members of the table-topping Ruapehu team in the run-out side, led by the vastly experienced Peter Rowe (82 games) the 2012 New Zealand Heartland captain and Player of the Year.
Despite injury to Fraser Hammond, it will still be a very steady scrum with only Border's Sam Madams and Marist's Bradley Graham having less than a season's worth of representative games under their belts.
Ruapehu's 35-year-old prop Shaun McDonough (51 games) and Ratana's 31-year-old Vaan Rauhina (45 games) bring plenty of knowledge up front, while Ruapehu's Andrew Evans will be adding to his 41 matches.
The sole member of the backline to compare with forward veterans is Kaierau's fullback Ace Malo with 47 games, although reserve halfback Josh Edwards has played 31 games.
On the 12-man bench there will be seven other newcomers, including further Ruapehu muscle from hooker Karl Parker and 137kg prop Kim McNaught.
Getting a chance to debut at age 32, Parker could be living proof of front rowers coming into their peak later down the line. Marton prop Lucas Puts, 2m tall Ruapehu lock Sonny Woodmass, Marton mid-fielder Taukiri Manawatu, Border winger Sailosi Naqiso and Ruapehu fullback Zyon Hekenui are the other new faces.
WRFU spokesman JB Phillips confirmed all 27 players will get game time with both teams using the match as a trial. "[It] is not a first-class fixture because the unions are fielding more than the allowable 22 players.
"The Steel Cup, however, will be at stake."
Kickoff on Wednesday is 4pm at Cooks Gardens.
The Wanganui team is (appearances in brackets):