Heartland Preview – Sth Canterbury v Wanganui – Head 2 Head

Follow @RedefinedRugby

23 August 2014

Sth Canterbury v Wanganui

@ Timaru 2:30 PM – BET NOW

We continue our Head 2 Head Previews with Sth Canterbury v Wanganui.

SOUTH CANTERBURY

2013 finish: Lochore Cup winners

The expected loss of prolific points scorer 22-year-old Liam Edwards will be a major blow for the defending Lochore Cup champions this season.

Edwards, a loan player from Dunedin who has been in the wider Hawke’s Bay training squad this year, has been the leading points scorer and try scorer in Heartland rugby for the past two years.

The highly talented fullback scored 140 points including nine tries last season, playing a major role in helping the Stags celebrate a 125^th jubilee by winning a first Heartland title from four Lochore finals.

Also missing from the backline will be strong mid-fielders Fa’aitu Tuamoheloa (51 games and a NZ Heartland rep) and John Peeters (25 caps), both retired.

Utility back George Folau, who scored five tries last year, is again available.

The side will pack down a formidable front row headed by  NZ Heartland rep prop Matt Fetu (65 games) and hooker Nathan Tubb (24 caps) plus fellow front rower Timaru Tafa  (58 matches).

Although the Stags finally won the Lochore Cup coach Chester Scott admitted it was a mixed season, including losing the Hanan Shield to neighbours Mid Canterbury, and the green and blacks have higher sights in 2014.

The side was shaded 26-25 by Ellesmere and South Canterbury bounced back in their final pre-season hitout with a good eight-try 52-30 win over Marlborough in Hanmer.

Down 22-12 at the break, South Canterbury poured on the pressure and points in the second half.

The previous weekend they had been given a lesson in rugby from defending Meads Cup champions Mid Canterbury 61-29

Sth Canterbury Heartland Squad 2014

Forwards: Matt Fetu, Tom Fleming, Nick Strachan, Kali Latu (Celtic), Nathan Tubb, Timaru Tafa, Sam Vea, Telusa Latu, Teki Veikune, Tuita Tauelangi (Harlequins), Andrew Scarlett (Mackenzie), Ben Hewitson (Pleasant Point).

Backs:Sekope Maea (Celtic), Jared Trevathan (Geraldine), Maile I’Ongi, Hua Kaumatule, Paula Fifita, Scott Norton (Harlequins), Tenari Saumani, Erenimo Tau (Temuka), Theo Davidson, Kurt Rooney, Miles Medlicott

WANGANUI – http://wanganuirugby.co.nz

2013 finish: Lochore Cup semi-finalists

After being such a dominant Heartland force during the first seven years of the championship the Butcher Boys were chopped down to size last year, not only missing a first Meads Cup final but also being dumped out in the Lochore Cup semi-finals.

The repercussions came very quickly with one-term selector-coach Karl Hoskin retiring less than three weeks after the end of the season.

Elected back into the reigns are a panel consisting of Jason Caskey and Jason Hamlin, who won Meads gold (2011) and silver (2012), fellow former Meads champion and NZ Heartland coach Guy Lennox and ex-Wanganui selector Marty McGrath.

Wanganui, with three championship titles and four times runners-up, won just four of 10 games in 2013 including losing a winning home trot of 31 matches at Cooks Gardens without defeat.

The target this year is a return to the former Meads Cup glory days with the four-man selection panel naming a large squad that is again likely to led by NZ Heartland flanker and skipper Peter Rowe (89 caps) and include locks Nick Cranston and Sonny Woodmass, also from the champion Ruapehu club.

Most experienced  of the backs is utility Ace Malo (56 games) who has recovered from injury.

Newcomer is Fijian Sikeli Ulukuta, younger brother of former NZ Heartland rep Lasa Ulukuta, who plays either as a three quarter or loose forward. He is also a useful goal-kicker, topping Wanganui club rugby this year with more than 150 pts.

Quite a few of last year’s squad have missed selection this season as the very experienced selection panel sorts out a  mobile squad that faced King Country winning 35-34 and then in very wet conditions  drawing with Manawatu B 7-7 before the championship starts.

The Wanganui team vs South Canterbury is –

Ace Malo (Kaierau); Clive Stowers (Pirates), Tevita Taufu’i (Manawatu), Rhema Sagote (Auckland), Jaye Flaws (Taihape); Josh Hamilton (Taranaki); Lindsay Horrocks (Border); Andrew Evans (Ruapehu); Peter Rowe (Ruapehu – capt), Faalafi Vave (Pirates), Sam Madams (Border), Sonny Woodmass (Ruapehu), Shaun McDonough (Ruapehu), Cole Baldwin (Border), Kamipeli Latu (Border).

Reserves – Roman Tutauha (Ruapehu), Viki Tofa (Marist) , Lasa Ulukuta (Pirates), John Laurie (Border). Backs: William Short (Ruapehu), Dane Whale (Taihape), Zyon Hekenui (Ruapehu).

SOUTH CANTERBURY v WANGANUI
Saturday 23 August, 2.30pm at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru
Played: 6, 2006-2013 | Wanganui wins: 5 | South Canterbury wins: 1
Last match: Wanganui 28 South Canterbury 18, 13.08.11 in Timaru (HC)
Last South Canterbury win: South Canterbury 13 Wanganui 11, 09.09.06 in Wanganui (HC)
Biggest Wanganui score: 59 (59-14), 03.10.09 in Wanganui (MC)
Biggest South Canterbury score: 18 (18-28), 13.08.11 in Timaru (HC)
Biggest differential: Wanganui by 45 (59-14), 03.10.09 in Wanganui (MC)

—