Wanganui's world turned upside down | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

The weak have got their way, it seems.

Wanganui's Heartland Rugby Championship defence will start with a match against the other highest rating union in the group - South Canterbury.

So far in the short history of this competition, the previous year's finalists have started with group matches against the lowest raters as part of their reward.

But those lower unions have griped - and won their argument.

So Wanganui's group start is against last year's beaten semifinalists South Canterbury, at Cooks Gardens on August 28, followed by Horowhenua-Kapiti (Levin, September 4), West Coast (September 11, Cooks), King Country (Taupo/Te Kuiti, September 18), and finishes with a match against last year's second-to-bottom team Thames Valley (Wanganui, September 25).

This means, says Steelform Wanganui coach Guy Lennox, that there's no time to ease into the season as  in the past.

"They've put us back-to-front and made us play the stronger teams first," Lennox said. "Apparently the weaker teams have been complaining they have the harder games first-up every year and that basically their season is over before they get warmed up. But it just means we have to be a little more organised.

"In the past couple of years we've had East Coast first-up and that's enabled us to  get one under the belt before the season really gets into it."

But luckily the timing of Wanganui's Ranfurly Shield challenge  then becomes a lucky factor.

The match will be played against Southland on Friday night, July 23, at 7.35pm in Invercargill.

That means it's only a few weeks out from the start of the Heartland and thus the preparation for this will be preparation for the Heartland.

"Those involved in the shield challenge will have to be available for the Heartland campaign," Lennox said.

This involves having matches against a Manawatu XV in late June/early July and also a match against Wairarapa Bush.

Players definitely not available this season are David Gower (retired), Waisake Ratunideuba (Taranaki), first five Leon Mason (contract in Australia), and probably Aseali Tikoirotuma. The latter is playing for Te Kawau in the Manawatu competition in a bid to make the Manawatu squad.