Fijian lock may be in Wairarapa-Bush line-up

Fijian lock Tamasi Redubuka could be a starter for Wairarapa-Bush in their non-championship rugby match with Manawatu at Memorial Park, Masterton next Wednesday
Redubuka, who has played for Wanganui over the last two seasons, was scheduled to be in Masterton on Wednesday with the idea of playing for the Carterton club tomorrow but he missed his flight out of Fiji and just when he will arrive was still uncertain late yesterday.
Wairarapa-Bush coach Peter Russell is "pretty hopeful" Redubuka will be part of his squad for the Manawatu game but, at the same time, is not holding his breath.
"We'll just wait and see when he arrives and what shape he is in," he said. "We haven't given any guarantees, he's got to prove he's good enough to be there."
Russell has been happy enough with the performances by Wairarapa-Bush in their opening two non-championship games against a Wellington XV and a Hawke's Bay XV but with the naming of his NPC third division squad looming large on the horizon he is looking for even better against Manawatu.
"We need to step things up , we have to get more serious about how we play as a team,' he said. "We have to start getting combinations in place, it's more about the team now than individuals".
Providing injuries do not raise their ugly head again in club games tomorrow Russell could have the luxury of having close to a full strength team on the park next Wednesday.
Among those likely to return after missing the Hawke's Bay game are backs Nathan Couch, James Bruce, Richard Carroll and Jaco Pieterse and forwards Sam Henderson, Jason Russo and Joe Harwood.
Meanwhile, club matches will continue in Wairarapa-Bush tomorrow with results of most first division games appealing as foregone conclusions