Heartland Preview – King Country v Wairarapa Bush – Head 2 Head

Follow @RedefinedRugby

23 August 2014

King Country v Wairarapa Bush

@ Taupo 2:00 PM – BET NOW

Eketahuna FM will have live commentary from Owen Delany Park, Taupo

Trust House Wairarapa Bush vs  King Country

on www.radioeketahuna.co.nz Or 106.5 FM from 2pm

this Saturday 23^rd August2014

We round off our Head 2 Head Previews with King Country v Wairarapa Bush.

KING COUNTRY

2013 finish: 9^th

The Rams improved two placings on the previous two seasons and coach Kurt McQuilkin, also the NZ Heartland coach, is aiming for more consistency this year.

King Country started 2013 well with three wins from the first four games, including the scalps of both 2012 Meads Cup finalists East Coast and Wanganui, but then dropped the last four matches.

Skipper and prop Brian Mansfield (41 caps) is back again but missing from the front row will be 135 kg former Waikato and Bay of Plenty loan prop Ted Tauroa.

Also gone are 53-game flanker Sam Mason who has retired, experienced utility back Kurt Strachan (in Ireland), fullback James Hemara who was the Player of Origin last season, and mid fielder Pehi Te Whare (ex North Otago and Southland).

First five Whakataki Cunningham, a loan first five from Rotoiti in 2013 who was the team’s top points scorers, is one of three Bay of Plenty players in King Country club rugby this year.

Elusive winger Dean Church and halfback Roy Simpson, both with 30-plus games under their belt, are again available.

The pack includes solid lock Gene Waller and No 8 Anthony Wise (ex Fiji and Waikato who scored four tries last campaign), two of the tallest forwards in the squad at 1.94m.

King Country Heartland Squad 2014

WAIRARAPA-BUSH – http://waibush.co.nz

2013 finish: 3^rd

The loss of four key loose forwards and accurate goal-kicker Glen Walters are gaps for coach Mark Rutene and assistant Paddy Gough to overcome this season.

The union, original holders of the Meads Cup in 2006, have finished third for the past two season after a four-year slump in form although winning the Lochore Cup in 2010 was a consolation.

Walters, a Hutt OB Marist first five who was a Player of Origin in 2012 and set a Wairarapa record of 166 pts, scored 278 pts in his 21 games in two seasons.

The Stags, however, may have a very suitable replacement in Sam Monaghan, the former Canterbury ITM Cup rep.

Loosies missing from last year are skipper Johan Van Vliet (No 8), back in Holland, injured blindside flanker James Goodger, fellow side rower John McFadzean (overseas) and back rower Nathan Iro (in Wellington).

The tight forward department has been strengthened by the return of 52-match prop Kurt Simmonds and lock Andrew McLean (45 caps) who helped Wairarapa frighten Wanganui 20-23 in a tense 2012 semi-final.

The team’s top try scorer last season, winger Paul Tikomainavalu, has been in sharp club form.

The Stags have started 2014 by beating Horowhenua-Kapiti 55-14 in a warm-up game in Featherston and a very convincing 71-0 win over Poverty Bay

Wairarapa-Bush Heartland Squad 2014