Wairarapa-Bush ready for the fight

Robbed of three of their front line players you could be forgiven for thinking that the fight has gone out of Farriers Wairarapa-Bush.

Hell no, and if anything the injury blows will only help to strengthen their resolve, says head coach Josh Syms.

With two games to play in the qualifying rounds – the first against Poverty Bay tomorrow (Saturday) – Wairarapa-Bush need to bank maximum points to put them into the Meads Cup top four.

Other results will determine where they rank, however third or fourth seem the most likely. Their final match is at home against winless East Coast.

Guilty of being a little bit hit and miss in the Heartland Championship this season, Wairarapa-Bush seem to be playing their best footy when their backs are against the wall.

That was certainly the case against fancied Mid Canterbury and North Otago and probably so from here on now that James Goodger (lock), John Ika (half-back) and Tim Priest (first-five eighth) have been ruled out for the rest of the campaign. All three succumbed to injury in last weekend’s narrow 24-26 loss to Buller in Masterton.

It was a shattering defeat for the “Boys from the Bush”, compounded by the fact they should have won. In the space of less than a minute Wairarapa-Bush went from looking like they would score and secure a bonus point try, to conceding 8-points at the other end and having Priest injured in the process. It proved the defining moment in the match, and potentially the season. Put simply, it could mean the difference between a home semi-final in the Meads Cup to playing off in the second tier Lochore Cup.

A frustrated Syms says it’s imperative they park their disappointment and all the “what if’s”.

Nobody is talking about the Lochore Cup, the focus is still firmly fixed on the big prize – the Meads, he says.

Poverty Bay hasn’t beaten Wairarapa-Bush since 2011 and by their own standards wouldn’t be happy with how their season is progressing. But putting 60-points on West Coast last weekend suggests that they are a side not to be taken lightly and Syms knows it is going to require a mighty effort to roll them in Gisborne.

Goodger’s misfortune is Blake Knight’s gain, named to start at lock after making a big impression playing for the “B’s”. With more than 50-caps Inia Katia (pictured above) is one of Wairarapa-Bush’s most experienced players, but he has huge boots to fill replacing the inspirational John Ika at half-back.

A member of the NZ Heartland squad last year,Tim Priest (pictured right) – like Goodger – is another huge lose. The in-form Sam Monaghan will provide the cover, moving in from full-back, with Andy Humberstone to wear the No.15 jersey.

There is some good news on the injury front with Tasman import Iziq Foa’i cleared to play, starting at second-five eighth.

New to the playing 22 are Daryl Picking (half-back) and Peni Rokoduguni (wing).