Tantrum stays loyal to starting lineup

Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Kelvin Tantrum has resisted the temptation to make sweeping changes to his starting line-up for the non-championship match against Hawke's Bay at Memorial Park, Masterton on Queen's Birthday Monday.
Rather he has mainly stayed loyal to the same 15 who were in the original selection for the Jimmy Cotter Memorial Trophy game against a Wellington XV last Tuesday, a fixture in which Wairarapa-Bush conceded 16 tries and were beaten by a whopping 98-0.
The only two changes are captain Joe Harwood, who was unavailable for that game, coming in at hooker in place of Mo Liemainelau, and Mike Wilson replacing his Pioneer clubmate Nathan Rolls on the blindside flank.
For Tantrum next Monday's match, which kicks off at the earlier time of 1pm,is a royal opportunity for his players to show they had taken on board the lessons handed out by the Wellington XV..
"It was a bit of a wake-up call and we want to give them the chance to show us they are capable of better," Tantrum said.
"Quite frankly, we were never going to make wholesale changes anyway because it's impossible to assess players on just one match and after such a limited preparation.But they should improve, and that's where the focus is this time round."
Tantrum isn't holding his breath, however, at the prospect of the Hawkes Bay side being any less formidable a rival than the Wellington XV. Yes, he is aware the Bay are bringing a side consistently of mainly and development squad players but he also is aware they have been part of a training programme which commenced way back in November "They will be young, big, fit and fast and that's a pretty dangerous combination, isn't it,?" he said.
With that in mind Tantrum is keen to see Wairarapa-Bush show much greater intensity in defensive situations than they did against Wellington with the emphasis being on limiting the time and space available to the ball carrier. "Cutting down their options on attack has to be a priority, the more passes we let them string together the more tries they are likely to score."
Tantrum also wants his forwards to up the ante as far as intensity is concerned, especially in the lineouts where he considered the Wellington XV all too often won or spoiled the Wairarapa-Bush throws without being seriously challenged.
"I know it's tough when the size factor is so much against you but you have to do everything you can to be competitive and I don't think we did that," he said.
Attaining at least a fair share of quality ball from scrums and lineouts is seen as important by Tantrum if the Wairarapa-Bush backs are to have any chance of demonstrating their attacking skills, something which was denied them in the Wellington match."It'd be nice to think they won't spend the whole game defending, we do have a fair bit of pace out wide and hopefully we can use it," he said.
Barring injuries in Saturday's club games the Wairarapa-Bush team will be is: Nick Olson; Charlie Walker-Blair, Joran Watene, Mike Shaw, Lance Stevenson; Patrick Rimene; Zeb Aporo; Mike Spence (vice-captain); Sully Alsop, Daniel Griffin, Tomasi Kedrabuka, Mike Wilson; Dylan Higgison, Joe Harwood, Kurt Simmonds.Reserves: Mo Liemainelau, Richard Puddy, Andrew McLean, Nathan Rolls, Ben Aldworth, Justin Lett, Keiran Te Whare, James Boyle.