Couch still in doubt for big clash

A DECISION as to whether experienced midfield back Nathan Couch will be in the starting line-up for Wairarapa-Bush in their Heartland championship match with Wanganui at Wanganui on Saturday will not be made until tomorrow night.
Couch was a late withdrawal from the South Canterbury game last weekend because of a back injury, but took part in some of the contact sessions at training at Tuesday without any apparent discomfort.
However, coach Peter Russell is mindful that Wairarapa-Bush has a Meads Cup semi-final on Saturday week and said that if Couch was feeling any pain the night before the game he wouldn't be risked.
"Obviously we'd like Chopper (Couch) to be there, but we're already in the semis so it wouldn't make sense to play him if he's not ready," Russell said.
If Couch doesn't take the field then his place at second-five will again be filled by Gladstone utility back Mike Shaw, who did a handy job there against South Canterbury, He doesn't have the flair or inventiveness of Couch, but is a sound link on attack and sturdy on defence.
Couch is not, however, the only member of the Wairarapa-Bush squad whose availability for Saturday's match is in doubt.
Impending fatherhood could possibly rule out captain and hooker Joe Harwood while loose forward Brodie Duffin has a chest problem which could see him side lined for at least one game.
Standing by in case Harwood has to withdraw is Eketahuna hooker Matthew Cox while Duffin's replacement would probably be Gladstone's Steve Wilkinson.
Wanganui, like Wairarapa-Bush, are already through to the Meads Cup semis, but Saturday's game is still very important for both sides as whoever wins will have the inside running to host the grand final; that is, of course, if they get that far.
Indeed the probability is that Wairarapa-Bush will need to pick up at least one bonus point against Wanganui to ensure that Masterton is the venue of their semi-final game. Fail to manage that and North Otago could leap-frog them into second place at the end of the top six play-offs, a situation which would see Wairarapa-Bush travelling to Oamaru for the semis. Not an inviting prospect at all.
Russell has enough respect for the fire-power in the Wanganui backs to know that Wairarapa-Bush's best chance of beating them will revolve around them dominating the forward exchanges, and therefore denying them much in the way of quality possession.
"We need to get the better of them in the scrums and lineouts and also make sure that they have to commit most of their forwards to the rucks and mauls," Russell said. "If we let them fringe around the edges there then we'll be playing into their hands"
Russell also gave his backs a vote of confidence, saying that their attacking potential should not be under-rated.
"We have plenty of pace out wide and we won't be afraid to use it," he said. "If it's on to move the ball we will move it, don't worry about that."