Smith has big shoes to fill

No prizes for guessing who has the hardest act to follow in Wairarapa-Bush club rugby in the 2006 season.
New Eketahuna coach David Smith has taken over the reins of a side which has won the senior first division title for the last three years.
Smith's elevation to the coaching role comes after a long stint in the Eketahuna colours.
He can't recall exactly when he first turned out for their premier side, but thinks it was "about 1990" and he was still a key member of their loose forward trio last season.
Renowned for his speed to the loose ball, his harassing of opposing inside backs, and his handy lineout play, Smith's all-round skills did not go unrewarded as apart from being widely acknowledged as one of the most consistent performers on the club scene he also had "four or five" games for Wairarapa-Bush as well.
Smith readily concedes that his replacing of Graeme Cheetham as Eketahuna coach is a big challenge.
Not only because of the team's recent history, but because it is his first foray into coaching and therefore it is a learning experience for him too.
"Yes, I guess some people will say there is only one way for the team to go and that is down," he said. "But that's part of the challenge isn't it?. ?. to stay at the top won't be easy, but it's definitely what we are aiming for."
While he doesn't plan to play himself in 2006, Smith agrees that could happen if injuries occur and he isn't worried about taking charge of players whom he has played alongside for many years.
"I actually think that being part of the culture of Eketahuna rugby for so long could be an advantage," he said.
"Standards have been set and everyone knows what they have to do to maintain them."
Smith has yet to finalise his squad for the defence of their title in 2006 but he anticipates it being very similar to that of last year.
He will though be without two of their more outstanding performers last season in . Wairarapa-Bush representatives hooker Rob Foreman and lock Tim Iro, both of whom have transferred to Manawatu.
Meanwhile the addition of Featherston means there will be a bye when senior first division club rugby for the 2006 season kicks off in Wairarapa-Bush on Friday, March 31.
There are now 11 teams in the premier league.