Cantab game treated ?like a grand final

Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Peter Russell, pictured right, isn't kidding when he says Saturday's NPC third-division match against Mid-Canterbury at Memorial Park, Masterton is being treated by his side as "like a grand final".
It's the last game in the preliminary rounds for the two teams and while Mid-Canterbury will be playing for little more than pride the exact opposite is the case for Wairarapa-Bush.
For them it's the opportunity to set up a home semi-final the following weekend and, safely through that, a home final on October 15.
That though could all turn to custard should Wairarapa-Bush fail to pick up any points against Mid-Canterbury.
It could mean them dropping from first to third on the competition table and playing their semi-final in foreign territory.
That would happen if they lost without picking up any bonus points and second-placed Horowhenua-Kapiti and third-placed Buller both managed to win, Horowhenua-Kapiti against South Canterbury and Buller against King Country.
Coach Russell said his players are well aware of the importance of beating Mid-Canterbury and he is upbeat about their prospects of them doing just that after an impressive training session on Tuesday night.
"It was a pretty intensive hit-out and the enthusiasm showed just how keen the guys are to get out there and do the job," he said. "We're treating this game like a grand final ? it doesn't matter what you win by as long as you win."
Russell is expecting a stern test from a Mid-Canterbury side which lies fifth on the competition table but too far away from the top four to make the semis, although he doubts they will play the same physical brand of rugby which West Coast did against Wairarapa-Bush in Greymouth last Saturday.
The Coasters were intent on battering Wairarapa-Bush into submission up front and Russell was pleased with the perseverance shown by his players against tactics which often stretched the limits of legality.
"Looking back it was the sort of game where players could have become frustrated and lost their cool, so it was pleasing to see us stay calm and finally run in six tries ... it was the mark of a good side," he said.
Mid-Canterbury might have won just two of their six games to date but they showed enough against guaranteed semi-finalists King Country last weekend to suggest they will certainly be no push-overs for Wairarapa-Bush.
They led King Country 6-5 at halftime and it was only after they had a player ordered from the field for stomping that King Country ran in two quick tries to pull away to a flattering 24-6 advantage.
Russell sees Mid-Canterbury taking an "everything to gain and nothing to lose" approach on Saturday with the emphasis being on an open style of play and he will be stressing the importance of making first tackles count.
"Teams like Mid-Canterbury are always very dangerous if they get on a roll ... you have to get on top of them early or you're in trouble," he said.
The Wairarapa-Bush starting line-up for Saturday will have at least one change in the backs from that which initially took to the field against West Coast.
Recovered from injury is fullback Bart Viguurs and he will return to the custodial role in place of Glen Bunny in a change which Russell was quick to emphasise had nothing to do with Bunny's display last weekend. "I thought Glen had an excellent game but Bart had been impressive beforehand and it would have been hard to leave him out," he said. "But at the same time there wasn't a lot in it."
Just who will start at halfback won't be decided until match morning with the weather having the final say. If the winds get up as forecast Hamish McKenzie could start ahead of James Bruce because he has a superior kicking game but if it is calm and close-quarter attacking is the go the more robust Bruce could get the nod.
In the forwards Rob Foreman will start ahead of Ritchie McDonald at hooker and there will be a change in the make-up of the loosies too with Daimon Neal on the openside flank and Sylvanus Iro at No 8, the position in which Steve Olds started last weekend.
Again the changes are no reflection on form, as both McDonald and Olds had big games in Greymouth. More it is a statement on the impressive depth in the current Wairarapa-Bush squad.
Bracketed at prop are Joe Harwood and Ashley Wells with Harwood expected to start if injury niggles do not rule him out.
A likely Wairarapa-Bush side is: Bart Viguurs; Marika Kau, Simanu Simanu, Nathan Couch, Esava Teko; Patrick Rimene; James Bruce or Hamish McKenzie; Sylvanus Iro; Daimon Neal, Tomasi Kedarabuka, Mike Robinson, Sam Henderson; Joe Harwood or Ashley Wells, Rob Foreman, Dylan Higgison. Reserves: Bruce or McKenzie, Tom Harmon, Glen Bunny, Harwood or Wells, Corey Reid or Steve Olds, Ritchie McDonald.