Semis dream unchanged

READY: Wai -Bush forwards Rima Marurai, (left), James Goodger and Johnie McFadzean prepare for lineout action. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

THE equation has changed but Wairarapa-Bush head coach Josh Syms still believes his team are a realistic chance to make it through to the Meads Cup semifinals of the 2015 Heartland rugby championship.

For that to happen Wairarapa-Bush will need to be placed in the top four of the 12-team competition at the end of the preliminary rounds and, after Saturday's 36-26 loss to South Canterbury at Memorial Park, they lie sixth-equal.

By his own reckoning, Syms felt before the latest loss Wairarapa-Bush would have to win three of their last five preliminary games to make it to the Meads Cup and now it was a case of having to win three of their last four.

"Yes, the equation is more difficult but the goal is still there," Syms said yesterday. "Three out of four is not impossible, it's a big ask but we can do it."

Next up for Wairarapa-Bush is West Coast at Greymouth and, while Syms conceded there could be some changes to the starting line-up from that which took the field against South Canterbury, he is also mindful of the importance of staying loyal to those players who have been putting in the hard yards at training as well as on match days.

"You can't fault the commitment of the guys and, in any case, if you are going to replace them you need to have players who will make a difference and I'm not sure we have too many options in that regard," he said.

"I'm pretty happy with what we've got, we might do a bit of tweaking here and there but wholesale changes ... no, I don't see the need for that."

It does seem likely, however, that two of the forwards who missed the South Canterbury game will return to the front line against West Coast; prop Kurt Simmonds and lock James Wall. They will add bulk to the pack, and that could be a crucial commodity against a West Coast side which is reputed to be well served in that area. The return of Simmonds would probably mean Andrew Makalio moving from prop to hooker while Wall would likely replace Johnie McFadzean who was, in fact, one of the standout individuals for his side in the South Canterbury game.

McFadzean is a versatile player who has, of course, performed sterling deeds for his province as a blindside flanker and No8 in the recent past and his removal from the middle row would surely then see him become a serious contender for one of those roles.

The $64,000 question in the backs revolves around how to enhance their attacking potential. Posers confronting Syms and assistant coach Wayne Roache include who would best serve the cause at halfback, the solidity of Cody Whittaker or the unorthodoxy of Inia Katia, whether the midfield combination tried for the first time against South Canterbury, Andy Humberstone and Tipene Haira, did enough to be given a second crack, whether the extra pace of promising youngster Nick Robertson could be useful on the wing and who of Viliami Hala and Nick Olson offers the most at fullback.