Defensive patterns main talking points

Defensive patterns were the main talking point when the Wairarapa-Bush rugby squad were forced by the wintery weather to train under cover in Masterton on Tuesday evening.
Coach Kelvin Tantrum said his players were aware of their deficiencies in that department during their 37-31 loss to West Coast at Memorial Park last weekend, particularly from second and third phase situations.
"We allowed them (West Coast) to build momentum by missing tackles and they scored some pretty soft tries because of it," Tantrum said.
"We had the structures in place but we didn't stick to them, that was pretty much all there was to it."
Tantrum said the defensive hassles against West Coast were compounded through Wairarapa-Bush too often looking to attack from within their own territory and turning over ball in the process.
"The game plan was based around playing the game in their half of the field and again we didn't quite do what we set out to do," he said.
The Wairarapa-Bush starting line-up for their next Heartland championship fixture against South Canterbury in Timaru on Saturday won't be finalised until Friday morning with Tantrum admitting at least a couple of personnel changes were being considered.
"Right now I don't want to name names but, yes, we could tweak things in one or two spots," he said. "We still have a bit of thinking to do it that respect."
Tantrum admits too to having little knowledge of South Canterbury's strengths and weaknesses but he expects them to be hurting after their 18-17 loss in their opening Heartland game.
South Canterbury scored three tries to two but Buller kicked enough goals to sneak the victory.
"From what I've been told they (South Canterbury) are always extra hard to beat at home and that loss is going to make them even harder, isn't it?" he said. "No one wants to start off with two losses so they will be approaching this game with the same attitude we are. "It has to be won.".
Interestingly enough South Canterbury is coached by Ken Wills who several seasons ago was sacked from the same job before the season began because the players did not agree with his methods.
And he is being assisted by Barry Fairbrother, who in a representative career stemming from 1981 to 1992, scored a record 1048pts for the union.
Captaining the side this season is Otago "import" second-five Luke Reihana, who was part of the Alhambra Union side which won the Dunedin premier club competition this year.
Another "import" of note is Tevita Latu, a fullback who played for Wellington B last season, while first-five Richie Preston has a big reputation for his tactical nous.
Among the stars of the South Canterbury pack are a couple of hard-running Pacific Islanders, Tui Tauelangi and Tevita Tuliakiono.