Time Wai-Bush delivered

DODGING AND WEAVING: Robbie Anderson (left) is bracketed at second-five for tomorrow's Heartland game with Thames Valley.PHOTO CHRIS KILFORD

THE lead-in to the Heartland championship rugby match between Wairarapa-Bush and Thames Valley at Memorial Park, Masterton, tomorrow is a classic illustration of how hopes and aspirations can change in a matter of just a few weeks.

Who would have thought even a month ago that Wairarapa-Bush would be going into what is the sixth round of qualifying round matches, even contemplating defeat against a union which has the unenviable record of being the only one in the Heartland series yet to play in either a Meads or Lochore Cup final?

Well, as it happens, there is now only one team who can justifiably claim favouritism for this particular clash, and it's definitely not the home team.

Whereas Wairarapa-Bush have picked up just three points from their first five games and are sitting 10th on the points table, Thames Valley have been something of a revelation.

They started out with a 19-19 draw with Horowhenua-Kapiti, strung three wins together against King Country (15-10), Mid Canterbury (20-15) and East Coast (21-18), and their sole defeat came last weekend against North Otago. And there was merit there too, the "swampfoxes" coming from 13-3 down at halftime to be trailing 15-16 with three minutes to go, only to concede a late penalty, which North Otago successfully converted to stretch their advantage to four points.

One thing is obvious from those results, Thames Valley know how to dig deep. None of their games has had more than a five-point spread and to come out on the wrong side of the ledger only once shows they have the mental toughness to slog it out right to the bitter end.

Wairarapa-Bush are a rather different story. Nobody could accuse the players of not trying hard enough but they have developed a habit of virtually handing their opposition easy points through basic handling and passing errors, and conceding penalties in kickable positions. Excuses for that sort of ineptitude are difficult to find. The weight of expectation after a thoroughly impressive pre-championship campaign could have had a bearing in the first few weeks but that certainly doesn't hold any longer.

Strangely enough, however, that rather woeful scenario could - and should - make Wairarapa-Bush a more dangerous beast tomorrow. With the final scoreboard no longer as important as it has been, they can be encouraged to throw caution to the wind. And if that means better exploitation of the attacking capabilities of pacy backs like Sam Monaghan, Nick Olson and Nathan Hunt, then Thames Valley's defensive structure will need to be every bit as good as it is deemed to be.

Again head coach Mark Rutene and his assistant, Paddy Gough, have resisted any temptation to make major changes to their starting line-up for tomorrow's game. Up front, Ollie Terblanche joins Kurt Simmonds and Richard Puddy in the front row, Sam Marshall-Wilson and Andrew McLean will continue their partnership at lock, and the loose trio will consist of Rima Marurai and Isaac O'Connor on the flanks and Tom Fleming at No8.

The one question mark in the backs is at second-five, where Byron Karaitiana, who is battling a minor injury hassle, has been bracketed with Robbie Anderson. Otherwise, Zeb Aporo and the returning Ben Aoina will form the inside combination, Teihana Brown will be at centre, Olson and Hunt on the wings and Monaghan at fullback. This is a Wairarapa-Bush side capable of beating a side of Thames Valley's calibre comfortably. For the sake of loyal supporters who have stuck with them through thick and thin, now is the time to deliver.