Aporo set for Bush slot

East Coast utility back Zeb Aporo could have to fill the troublesome first-five spot for Wairarapa-Bush in at least the early part of their 2011 Heartland championship rugby campaign.
Aporo was initially named as one of two halfbacks in the Wairarapa-Bush squad, the other being his East Coast clubmate Matt O'Connor. But head coach Mark Rutene says there is now a "good chance" he will play up to four games in the No10 jersey.
These would take in the "friendlies" against Horowhenua-Kapiti in Masterton on July 23 and Poverty Bay in Gisborne on July 30, and the opening two Heartland games against Thames Valley in Masterton on August 6 and Mid-Canterbury in Methven on August 13.
The fact that Wellington club rugby will not finish until early in August has suddenly elevated Aporo to the front runner for the first-five role.
It is no secret that Rutene has been having discussions with Wellington coach Andre Bell over the possibility of "importing" a player from there to take that slot - as Jeremy Te Huia did so well last year - but those currently being considered are in teams who could make it through to the club finals.
"We accept they have to put their clubs first and that's why we have to consider the other options which are available to us, "Rutene said.
If those options mean staying with local players then Aporo would seem the safest bet, as he regularly plays outside O'Connor at first-five for the unbeaten East Coast premier division team. He already has first-hand knowledge of what it takes to perform at the top provincial level.
It is known, however, that Rutene does hold young Pioneer first-five Tipi Haira in high regard too and certainly his club form has been solid enough to keep him in the picture. Whether he yet has the necessary tactical nous is the $64,000 question and creates a risk factor that may persuade Rutene and his assistant coach Steve Thompson Aporo is the better choice.
Not only that it would provide the opportunity for them to replace Aporo in the halfback role with Gladstone's Inia Katia, the Fijian who has proved himself to be something of an excitement machine on the club scene through his speed off the mark and nifty footwork.
It was probably questionmarks over the swiftness of his passing that made Katia the most talked about omission from the initial Wairarapa-Bush squad, and giving him the chance to dismiss those concerns could prove hugely beneficial to the side in the longer term. His attacking skills make him a potential match winner in any company.
Rutene and Thompson also have to decide on who will join Eketahuna's Campbell Lawrence as the two hookers in their Heartland championship squad. Here too an "import" looked the obvious way to go but for the same reasons as that pertaining to first-five any move along those lines might not happen for another few weeks, if it happens at all.
There is now plenty of incentive for those wearing the No2 jersey on the club scene to push their claims. One who has been doing that in recent weeks is Pioneer's Porky Henare, who has shone through his blockbusting runs and aggressive close quarter defence.
Another key decision to be made by Rutene and Thompson is who will replace the now retired Joe Harwood as captain of the Heartland side.
Rutene says they have "three or four" players in mind, all of whom could do a good job.
The fact he was named skipper of the Wairarapa line-up for the sub-unions game against Bush over Queen's Birthday makes Martinborough prop Wilbur Davies a likely candidate. Other possibilities would have to be Greytown prop Kurt Simmonds and Eketahuna duo Joss Tua-Davidson and Brandon Young.