Top-liners likely to get a break

Two of the mainstays of the Wairarapa-Bush rugby team over the past couple of seasons, prop Dylan Higgison and flanker Sam Henderson, could be rested from the non-championship fixture with Poverty Bay at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
Coach Peter Russell did not have either Higgison or Henderson in the team he announced yesterday, and while there is still an outside chance one or both could be on the reserve bench, Russell is keen to have them fresh for the opening NPC first division game against Buller in Masterton the following weekend.
"They have both done the hard yards for us and we know what they are capable of," Russell said. "Giving them this game off is a recognition they've got nothing more to prove."
Replacing Higgison as prop is Eketahuna's Brendan Walker, who gets just reward for some impressive form at club level over the past month.While not the most mobile of forwards he is regarded as one of the best scrummagers in the region and Russell is looking for him to shine in that department.
Henderson's absence gives his Gladstone club-mate Mike Spence the opportunity to show his wares on the blindside flank. Spence has mainly been at No.8 for Wairarapa-Bush thus far this season, but newcomer Brodie Duffin will be there on Saturday with Sylvanus Iro in his now regular role of openside flanker.
Experienced middle rower Mike Robinson was unavailable for this game because of committments with his Upper Hutt club in the Hardham Cup final in Wellington. Fijian duo Tomasi Kedarabuka and Langi Peters will start at lock, and the overseas connection has been enhanced with the selection of South African Albertus Buckle in the front row alongside Walker and skipper Joe Harwood.
The good news in the Wairarapa-Bush backline is that the midfield stars of last season, Nathan Couch and Simanu Simanu, will be reunited at second-five and centre respectively for the first time in 2006.
And with first string fullback Peato Lafeale and new winger Francis Seumanata both playing for Northern United in Wellington's Jubilee Cup final, their replacements are Duncan Rutherford and Tommy Harmon.
Coach Russell is intent on Wairarapa-Bush producing a structured performance in what is their final dress rehearsal for their NPC campaign.
"It is not a fun game for us??.it's our last chance to get things right before the NPC and we've got to make the most of it," he said. "Structure, continuity and good communication are important and that's where the focus will lie."
The defensive play of Wairarapa-Bush will come under careful scrutiny too. Hurricanes assistant coach and former Canterbury coach Aussie McLean was at Tuesday's training session to give some tips in that area of the game, and it will be interesting to see what transpires from that.
Adding extra incentive to the game for Wairarapa-Bush is that the Jeremy David Memorial trophy will be at stake, a trophy presented in memory of the speedy winger who tragically lost his life in an accident after playing for both Poverty Bay and Wairarapa-Bush.
And also being remembered will be a life member of the Wairarapa-Bush union Lloyd McIntosh, a Greytown stalwart who passed away last week.