Forwards seen as key

A conservative game plan could be the secret to Wairarapa-Bush scoring an upset win over King Country in their Lochore Cup Heartland championship semi-final at Te Kuiti on Saturday.
The two sides met in the last of the preliminary round matches in Masterton last weekend and, while King Country ran out convincing 43-22 winners, the news was not all bad for Wairarapa-Bush.
In fact, enough heart could be taken from the competitiveness of their forwards to suggest that by focusing almost entirely on keeping them at the centre of action, a grand final spot could well be within their scope.
For that to occur in Te Kuiti, two things will be necessary. Firstly, the forwards will need to produce a performance at least equal, and probably better, than the one in Masterton. Secondly, the kicking game employed by the backs will need to be executed with greater precision than it has been for most of the 2010 season.
It would be a huge boost to Wairarapa-Bush's chances if their pack took the aggressive intent they showed in the first 10 minutes of last Saturday's match into the semi-final, only this time for the full 80.
Their domination of their King Country counterparts in all facets of the forward game in those opening stanzas was almost complete and while only one converted try was the reward, there could well have been at least another couple.
Once the King Country forwards weathered that storm they evened up the possession stakes, earning enough quality ball to allow their pacy outside backs ample opportunity to strut their stuff. However, the impression remained that for sheer physicality, the Wairarapa-Bush pack was the better equipped of the two so it makes sense that they should be seen as the most likely catalyst to success.
And, that being the case, it could also make good sense to make at least one change to the pack which initially took the field last weekend; Tommy Sargent in for Rupeni Temani on the openside flank, if only because Sargent is the more rugged of the two and would be better suited to a match where short passing rushes and pick and goes are the main form of attack.
It would be helpful to the Wairarapa-Bush cause, too, if loan player Mana Faraimo at No8 could be persuaded to use his bulk and strength to more telling effect in the tighter exchanges.
He is perhaps the most dangerous runner in broken play in the Wairarapa-Bush side but even for him, this game should be more about doing the hard yards in the grunt and shove department than anything else.
Recalling Byron Karaitiana to the starting line-up is an absolute must in the backs, with the only debate being whether he is placed at first-five or fullback.
Karaitiana would be the first to admit 2010 hasn't been a vintage season for him, with niggling injuries not helping, but his hefty punting will be vital for Wairarapa-Bush in a match where keeping the forwards on the front foot is the No1 objective.
With that in mind, it might be wise to have both Karaitiana and usual first-five Jeremy Te Huia in the side, with Karaitiana wearing the No15 jersey but slotting in at first-five in defensive positions.
It would be beneficial, too, if Te Huia flags the chip kicks, as teams with the attacking flair of King Country are invariably quick to capitalise when they go wrong.
The other backline change will come in the midfield, where Sam Mitchell, unavailable last weekend, seems certain to come in at second-five, which will probably mean Cyrus Baker and Jesse McGilvary contesting the centre position. Mitchell's strongest attribute is his tackling and that could be handy against King Country.