Percentage play way to go

BRIGHT PROSPECT: Wanganui's Stephen Perofeta is showing he has the goods at No 10.PHOTO/FILE

STRUCTURE will be a key word for Wairarapa-Bush going into their crucial Heartland championship rugby match with Wanganui at Memorial Park, Masterton, tomorrow.

The likelihood of needing a win, and possibly a bonus point, to seal the fourth qualifying spot for the Meads Cup semifinals does mean added pressure for the home team but those objectives will only be achieved if the basics are done well.

The plain truth is that Wairarapa-Bush are not a side capable of beating a team of Wanganui's calibre by running them off their feet. By what has been seen of both sides so far this season, it is Wanganui who have the greater attacking flair, particularly through the midfield and the outside backs, and their tactics will be based around exploiting that to the fullest extent.

The challenge for Wairarapa-Bush will be to play the sort of percentage rugby which they have used to good effect to beat Horowhenua-Kapiti and East Coast in their last couple of matches. It's all about the forwards gaining the ascendancy and the backs varying their tactics in a manner that keeps their opposition guessing. Any kicks in general play will need to go to land rather than hand because of Wanganui's ability to turn any counter-attacking opportunity into points. And, on that subject, it will be curtains for Wairarapa-Bush if the tackling woes which cost them so dearly in narrow losses to North Otago and South Canterbury beset them again.

As was to be expected, Wairarapa-Bush head coach Josh Syms and his assistant, Wayne Roache, have stayed with the tried and true in their starting line-up for tomorrow's game. Up front the only question mark is at blindside flanker where Brendan Campbell, who left the field injured against East Coast, has been bracketed with Brock Price. If Campbell is fit enough to play Price will probably drop out of the squad and Chris Raymond and Johnie McFadzean will cover the loose forward spots from the reserve bench. In the backs, the midfield berths have gone to Andy Humberstone and Viliami Hala and the versatile Corey McFadzean has got the nod at fullback

The Wairarapa-Bush team is: Corey McFadzean; Nick Olson, Viliami Hala, Andy Humberstone, Paul Tikomainavalu; Tim Priest; Cody Whittaker; So'otala Fa'oso'o; James Goodger, Lachie McFadzean, James Wall, Brendan Campbell or Brock Price; Kurt Simmonds, Andrew Makalio, Matt Kawana. Reserves: Backs: Inia Katia, Tipene Haira or Matt Dalley, Cameron Hayton. Forwards: Kody Thompson, Jacko Hull, Johnie McFadzean, Kody Thompson.

Teenage first-five Stephen Perofeta, rated one of the best prospects in the No 10 jersey in the country, will be an attention grabber in a Wanganui side which could earn themselves a home Meads Cup semifinal if they win. He scored three scintillating tries, all of them solo efforts, in his side's 55-23 win over Poverty Bay last weekend. Second-five Poasa Waqanibau and winger Samu Kubunavanua are other Wanganui backs who have been hitting the headlines on a regular basis while loose forward and skipper Peter Rowe, props Kamipeli Latu and Viki Tofa and locks Cole Baldwin and Roman Tutauha are the big guns in the pack.