Bush backline shuffled

The expected sweeping changes to the backline have been made as Wairarapa-Bush prepare for their Heartland championship rugby opener against Thames Valley at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday.
Of the rearguard that initially took the field in the Jeremy David Memorial Trophy match at Gisborne last weekend - won by Wairarapa-Bush 14-13 - only wing Dan Porter will start in the same position.
Moving into halfback from first-five, providing he recovers from a sore shoulder, is Zeb Aporo and his place in the No10 jersey will be taken by Tipene Haira, who came off the reserve bench to slot the winning field goal in Gisborne.
At second-five will be the experienced Sam Mitchell, who was not available for the Poverty Bay match, and alongside him at centre will be his East Coast clubmate, Jesse McGilvary, who joined the action on the wing after halftime last weekend and made a big impression with some strong attacking play.
On the wings on this occasion will be Porter and Nick Olson with Olson's place at fullback being taken by Wellington-based Trent Vatselias, who has played for Wairarapa-Bush at colts level, but will be making his debut for them in the Heartland competition.
It is Aporo's selection at halfback that will probably raise the most eyebrows, not because he isn't a proven performer there, but because the two halfbacks tried in Gisborne, Matt O'Connor and Inia Katia, both had impressive games. O'Connor will be in the reserves while Katia, who has a slight injury niggle, is being rested.
For Haira, the Thames Valley match will be hugely important as he looks to claim a regular starting berth in the Wairarapa-Bush squad. He did everything required of him in Gisborne, but was only on the field for a limited period and came on at a time when his forwards were calling the tune. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the constant pressure sure to be applied on him by the Thames Valley loosies who will be well aware of his "rookie" status.
The Mitchell-McGilvary pairing should help cure the midfield hassles which occurred in Gisborne, probably caused mainly by the fact that Tommy Harmon and Michael Vuicikau were teaming up for the first time there.
The versatile Harmon is likely to still get some game time off the reserves bench but Vuicikau has an injury worry and will be sidelined as a consequence.
The placement of Olson on the wing was no surprise as he has played often there in the past but Greg Dennes has to be unlucky to miss out. He shaped encouragingly at wing and fullback in Gisborne but a combination of Porter's value in the goal-kicking department - even though he had an off day against Poverty Bay - and the need to introduce Vatselias to the Heartland environment obviously counted against him here.
Vatselias, for his part, will want to show the faith being put in him by coaches Mark Rutene and Steve Thompson to add something special to the Wairarapa-Bush squad is not misplaced. Original thoughts were that he would be contending for the troublesome first-five berth and there is the chance he could be moved there during the course of this particular match.
The make-up of the Wairarapa-Bush pack will be exactly the same as it was in Gisborne except that Andrew McLean will partner Dan Griffin at lock ahead of Brandon Young. That was always going to be a close call and reflects the keen competition for places in the middle row.
Among the forward reserves is James Goodger, the talented Marist loosie who has been such a revelation on the club scene over the past couple of seasons. He will want to make every post a winner if he happens to get on the park as the depth in the loose forward department is even greater than it is at lock.
The Wairarapa-Bush team for Saturday is: Trent Vatselias, Dan Porter, Jesse McGilvary, Sam Mitchell, Nick Olson, Tipene Haira, Zeb Aporo, Joss Tua-Davidson, Johan van Vliet, Andrew McLean, Dan Griffin, Rupeni Tamani, Kurt Simmonds, Campbell Lawrence, Brendon Walker. Reserves: Matt O'Connor, Tommy Harmon, Heemi Tupaea, Wilbur Davies, Tereina McLean, Brandan Young, James Goodger.
A notable aspect of the starting line-up is five of the backs play for East Coast while six forwards are from the Eketahuna club.