Shane who? joins Haig's squad

Wanganui's rugby selectors have plucked an unknown from Manawatu club team Te Kawau as one of their hookers in the NPC rugby squad.
Shane Ratima joins another minor surprise in Marist's Raymond Te Huna in the hooking spot, one of those pinpointed by coach Milton Haig as an area of weakness in the Wanganui area in the lead-up to the squad naming.
Haig says he and assistant Guy Lennox went to watch Ratima's opponent a couple of weeks ago, a player they had been alerted to.
"Instead we were taken by this guy's (Ratima) workrate and accuracy around the field, we made inquiries and discovered he lived in Hunterville anyway, and travelled to play for Te Kawau each week," Haig said.
Ratima is in fact Te Kawau's No 2 hooker behind representative No 2 Simon Easton, and apparently has also played well on the flank for Te Kawau this season.
Haig said last year's hooker Vaan Rauhina (Ratana) had not revealed sufficient improvement in his workrate or lineout throwing ? "but if he shows improvement for the Development team, that puts him right back on the right track."
The other player from outside the area is former Wanganui captain Darren Balcombe, Te Kawau's vice-captain and the second placegetter in Manawatu's best and fairest player competition this year.
Haig has named 25 at this stage, and will look to add one or two more later after watching players against Taranaki B at Waverley on Saturday.
Of interest is a City College threequarter, Paul Perez, who may get a run against Taranaki B.
Certainly there will need to be an extra player or two introduced for Saturday's match because of injuries suffered by fullback Aselemo Malo (hamstring), No 8 Semesi Taulava (ankle) and prop and captain Mike Thompson (injured ankle in plate final)
Irish lock Brian McCrean has also returned to Ireland for a quick visit home before returning for the NPC season. Haig has named four props, adding Taihape's Leroy Rangiwai and Kaierau's Sam Mafileo to last year's Thompson and Lance Devane.
He says Mafielo played his way in with his big effort in Saturday's championship win by Kaierau. Rangiwai, a good scrummager without appearing too mobile at present, will get his chance.
The lock-loose forward situation lacks a really tall man, so Haig's emphasis on lineout throwing is understandable. The backs feature an embarrassment of riches at halfback in Denning Tyrell, Josh Edwards and Lee Peina, but one of these may well end up at first five-eighths ? where both Tyrell and Peina have both played first-class rugby.
Ruapehu's Jim Doolin and Ratana's Leon Mason offer other first-five alternatives.
There does appear to be strength in midfield but not too much on the wing, where Che Barlow looks No 1 despite his lack of club play. Brendon Bartley still seems a bit short of his top pace but has been named for the other spot.
Others missing from last year are Darren Firmin and Paul Belliss, both because of injury. Both will be expected to come back through the Development squad.
"The type of game we are going to play means we want players with a high workrate," Haig said.
One of the club final heroes in Kaierau No 7 Darren Munro. Haig nonetheless was extremely impressed with his effort but said that with Peter Rowe No 1 choice, the squad could not afford another specialist No 7.
"But if he continues to play as well he will certainly make it in the future."