Wairarapa-Bush rank outsiders, say bookies

Wairarapa-Bush have virtually no chance of upsetting North Otago in their Heartland rugby championship Meads Cup playoff match at Memorial Park, Masterton tomorrow if the bookmakers are to be believed.
The New Zealand TAB's sports betting department opened their odds midweek with North Otago paying just $1.15 on the head-to-head as compared to Wairarapa-Bush's $4.75.
The over-and-unders market also highlighted just how hot a favourite North Otago are to maintain their unbeaten Heartland record.
The southerners were listed as returning just $1.65 for a win by 13 points or over and $3 for a win by 12 points or under.
Wairarapa-Bush, on the other hand, was paying a massive $16 for a win by 13 points and over and a very healthy $6 for a victory by 12 points or less.
What may have escaped the bookies attention though is that Memorial Park doesn't exactly have happy recent memories for North Otago. They came here twice last year with much the same hype surrounding them as this time and went home with their tails between their legs on both occasions, albeit by slender margins.
Whether the current Wairarapa-Bush squad can add another tale of woe to North Otago's visits to Masterton is, of course, the $64,000 question.
Certainly they won't lack on the score of incentive, for a win would guarantee them a place in the Meads Cup semi-finals, but a loss would probably see them needing to beat Wanganui at Wanganui next weekend to remain in contention for the title they won last year.
Wairarapa-Bush also have the advantage of knowing what tactics North Otago will apply.
Video coverage of their previous games this season has shown that their emphasis is on attacking from anywhere and everywhere, and their results indicate they don't do it too badly either!
Their smallest winning margin in Heartland games has been their 26-7 victory over South Canterbury and twice they have registered over 50 points, against Buller and King Country, two teams which, incidentally, are still in the hunt for Meads Cup honours as well.
It is hardly surprising then that the main focus for Wairarapa-Bush in training this week has revolved around the devising of strategies which will hopefully limit the chances North Otago get to utilise their attacking expertise.
No doubt coaches Graham Cheetham and Lofty Stevenson have hammered the importance of making first tackles count and of closing them down quickly enough on defence so as to ensure the pace and flair of their outside backs is nullified to a large degree.
No doubt too they have asked their forwards to produce something special in the ball-winning departments as there is, of course, no better way to restrict the opposition's attacking ploys then depriving them of possession.
In that respect the effort of Wairarapa-Bush at scrum time is certain to come under the spotlight.
Gaining parity there has been a struggle for them through most of the season and from all accounts North Otago are very proficient in that area.
Hefty Eketahuna prop Brendan Walker, a noted scrummager, has come off the reserve bench more often than not in the current Heartland campaign and his elevation to the starting line-up tomorrow is a clear sign that Wairarapa-Bush are intent on providing a more stable platform than what has been the case in the past.
Ball retention will also be a vital component in the Wairarapa-Bush game plan.
That too hasn't exactly been a strength of their forward effort in 2007 but in most matches they have actually got away with it because their opponents simply haven't been good enough to capitalise on their mistakes.
Against North Otago & hmmmm different kettle of fish there I'd suspect.
In fact, watching the video of the 52-5 hiding North Otago gave King Country last weekend the impression was that most of their tries actually came from counter attacks launched after King Country had spilled ball.
The possibility of Pioneer utility forward Nathan Rolls being part of the Wairarapa-Bush starting line-up is exciting news though as he is one of those players who have the X-factor about them.
He has an uncanny knack of shaking tackles on attack and an uncompromising attitude on defence.
And, what's more, he will provide a very useful option at lineout time as well.
Joining Rolls as a "new boy on the block" is James Bruce, who has been drafted onto the reserve bench as the halfback understudy to Hamish McKenzie.
With 55 caps already under the belt, Bruce knows what rugby at this level is all about and his form as captain of the B's this season has been superb.
There is no better director of the forwards in the local region than Bruce and you can bet he will make his presence felt whenever he comes onto the paddock.
The accuracy of their tactical kicking will be a key issue for McKenzie, Bruce and first-five John Dodd as any kick which goes to hand is sure to be seen by North Otago as a prime counter attacking opportunity.
It will be crucial to the Wairarapa-Bush cause too that midfielders Jon Guillard and Heemi Tupaea are defensively sound as North Otago do much of their probing in that area with the idea of creating space for their speedy three-quarters.
This then is not and we stress that word not a game which is completely out of Wairarapa-Bush's grasp but if the basics aren't done well they will be punished, and big time at that!
An intriguing 80 minutes is in store.