'It's time to front up,' says Tantrum

It's time to front up and give local fans something to celebrate.
That's the frank admission from Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Kelvin Tantrum leading into his team's Heartland championship match with Horowhenua-Kapiti at Memorial Park, Masterton tomorrow.
Tantrum readily concedes Wairarapa-Bush have under-achieved in home games this season they are still to record their first win at headquarters and he says no excuses will be offered if they continue that trend.
"Everything is in place for us to show what we can do & we have trained well, the team culture is good and everybody seems happy with the type of rugby we are trying to play," Tantrum said. "There is no reason why we should let anyone down, no reason at all."
Sentiments of that nature should not, however, be taken to mean that Tantrum expects Wairarapa-Bush to dispose off the Horowhenua-Kapiti challenge comfortably. In fact, he has considerable respect for a side which might be bottom of the pool A points table but which has drawn with one of the joint leaders, Buller, and been beaten by just two points by the other, West Coast.
Results made to look even better heading into tomorrow's game by the fact Wairarapa-Bush have actually lost to both those sides, albeit narrowly.
And then, of course, there is the little matter of last year when Horowhenua-Kapiti were the "easy beats" of the Heartland series but still managed to claim Wairarapa-Bush's scalp in Levin.
"They are a good side and nothing is going to come easy against them," Tantrum said of Horowhenua-Kapiti. "But if we play well the result should take care of itself, that's the approach we have to take."
Two changes have been made to the Wairarapa-Bush starting line-up from that which initially took the field in the 11-8 defeat by Buller last weekend.
Nathan Couch has recovered sufficiently from injury to start at second five and Nathan Rolls likewise on the blindside flank.
Couch's penchant for the unorthodox will add spice to the Wairarapa-Bush attack although he won't be wanting a repeat of the defensive deficiencies which marred his effort against West Coast at his last appearance.
Rolls gives Wairarapa-Bush a much needed extra option at lineout time and his elusive running in broken play should be a plus as well.
The main talking point in the selection process actually involves the reserves with Tantrum opting for a five forwards and two backs split there, the most interesting aspect of which is the absence of a second specialist halfback to replace Mike Hollis should he get injured.
In the event of that happening it will be Couch, who apparently played at halfback in his early days, who steps into the breach.
Tantrum says having five forwards in the reserves is part of a change in strategy, one which it is hoped will add to Wairarapa-Bush's competitiveness up front.
"We believe we can get more out of the forwards by increasing our options in all areas there," Tantrum said. "Obviously there is a risk factor with it but we think it's a risk worth taking."
No matter how well the forwards perform, however, Wairarapa-Bush will very probably again come second if the tactical judgement of their backs is as poor as it was against Buller. The amount of aimless kicking in that match was clearly the worst aspect of their performance, with the majority of them going to hand and being returned with interest by a grateful Buller defence.
While there is always a place for tactical kicking the excellent attacking form being shown by wings Junior Togia and Charlie Walker-Blair in recent matches suggests greater value could come from utilising their skills on a more regular basis.
Hopefully then that duo will be kept busy tomorrow in a match which could have huge implications for Wairarapa-Bush as to whether they will be part of the premier Heartland section in the top six playoffs, the Meads Cup, or part of the bottom six in the Lochore Cup, something they have avoided in the past.
Four other matches will also be played at Memorial Park tomorrow with an interestingly-named side, the East Coast Wrinklies playing the Levin Crusaders in a Golden Oldies encounter starting at 11.30am. The three 1pm games are Wairarapa-Bush B v Horowhenua-Kapiti B, Wairarapa-Bush under-20 v Poverty Bay under-20 and Wairarapa-Bush under-18 v Horowhenua-Kapiti under-18.
Good news from the Wairarapa College under-15 team which won their quadrangular tournament in Levin. They beat Dannevirke High 24-8 in an entertaining first game which saw both teams place the emphasis on attack and then hammered a more physical but less skilled Hutt Valley 45-0 in the final. No surprise then that coach Ewan Smith was a happy man!