Otago 2023

[SouthernMann]

@NateHill74 that is a really interesting wrap. Especially not seeing any decent club rugby. A few guys I'm interested in. Do you think Oscar Schmidt-Uili has the ability to step up past club footy, he has looked dominant for years. I have been told in the past he has prioritised his study. What is the oil on Pepe and Asi are they worth a nudge? Does Josh Whaanga have the pace to play up or is he similar to his brother in the speed department? Is Semisi Tupou-Ta’eiloa a bit of a flat track bully who has been found out now he is playing against blokes his size? Who out of Lawrence Leung-Wai, Ale Aho and Reuben Palmer looks to have the highest ceiling? Does Ben Lopas look as good as the feedback has been on ODT rugby chat? Also do you think the shit conditions and weather in Dunedin hampers the ability to backs to come through?

[frugby]

@nostrildamus No, and why would he leave the Crusaders. Signed until 2025 anyway.

[frugby]

@NateHill74 said in Otago 2023:

Hey guys,
I'm back for my yearly preview report on the squad. I've got an analysis job in club rugby so have an idea of who the top performing and good options to fill in the squad spots are.
Here's my 2023 squad options:

PROPS: (6) - Need 7/8 as 2 away internationally
Abraham Pole (1) Harbour
Tau Kolomatangi (1) Taieri - Tonga RWC Training Squad
Jermaine Ainsley (3) Southern - All Black XV
Saula Ma'u (3) Harbour
Rohan Wingham (3) Dunedin
George Bower (1) Harbour - All Blacks
Options:
Ben Lopas (1,3) GI - NZ Schools 2019
Oscar Cowley-Andrea (1) Dunedin - Landers U20
Isileli Otunuku (3, Lock) Zingari - Landers U20
Shane Fikken (1) GI
Cam Allan-McNeill (3) Taieri
Moana Takataka (1,3) Kaikorai - Landers U20

HOOKERS: (2) - Need 3
Henry Bell (2,8) Kaikorai
Ricky Jackson (2) University - Coming back from injury, played 2 matches off the bench
Options:
Liam Coltman (2) AU - If your rumours are correct
Harrison Press (2) Dunedin - Brought into squad last year
Brady Robertson (2) Taieri - In squad last year
A-One Lolofie (2) Zingari - Landers U20

LOCKS: (4) - Need 5
Josh Dickson (Lock) University
Fabian Holland (Lock) Dunedin
Will Tucker (Lock) Kaikorai
Josh Hill (Lock, 6) Taieri
Options:
Lawrence Leung-Wai (Lock, 6) Zingari - Landers U20
Harrison Morton (Lock) Kaikorai
Ale Aho (Lock) University - NZ Universities
Reuben Palmer (Lock) Dunedin - Landers U20
Hunter Areaiiti-Burgess (Lock) - Landers U20

LOOSE FORWARDS: (5) - Need 6
Oliver Haig (Lock, 6)
Sean Withy (7)
James Lentjes (7,8) (C)
Christian Lio-Willie (8) - All Black XV
Sam Fischli (6,8)
Options:
Lucas Casey (6,7) Kaikorai - Landers U20
Harry Taylor (6,7,8) Southern
Taylor Dale (8, Lock) Harbour
Konrad Lotu-I'iga (6, Lock) Dunedin
Will Stodart (8,6) University - NZ Under 20
Semisi Tupou-Ta'eiloa (8) Kaikorai - NZ Under 20 Wider Squad
Aaron Withy (6,7) University - NZ Universities, Landers U20
Max Ratcliffe (7) Dunedin - Landers U20
(Rupeni Tamani - Fijian Drua, and been in Fiji squad recently)

HALF BACKS: (2) - Need 3
Nathan Hastie
James Arscott
Options:
Charlie Marsh Kaikorai
Motoki Tanaka University
Tristian Taylor Upper Clutha
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara University - If he signs
Bradley Campbell University - Landers U20
(Kieran McClea is gone, Bob Martin is injured)

FIRST FIVES (2) - Need 3
Cam Millar (10,15)
Ajay Faleafaga (10,12) - NZ Under 20
Options:
Obey Samate (10,15) Harbour - Auckland Dev couple of years back
Jacob Waikari-Jones (10,15) University
Caleb Leef (15,10) Taieri - Brought in short term last year
Josh Ioane (10) - If he resigns
(Jack Leslie - has season ending injury)

MIDFIELDERS (3) - Need 5
Thomas Umaga-Jensen (12,13)
Jake Te Hiwi (12,13,Wing)
Josh Timu (12,13)
Options:
Hugo Lynch (12,13) University
William Tafui (12) Harbour - Southland hasn't signed him
Josh Whaanga (12,13, Wing) Taieri - Landers U20
Aleki Morris-Lome (12,13) Harbour - Southland hasn't signed him
Cameron Burgess (12,13,10) Dunedin - Landers U20
(Ray Nu'u is gone)

OUTSIDE BACKS (3) - Need 6
Jona Nareki (11) AU - All Black XV
Sam Gilbert (15,Utility) GI - All Black XV
Finn Hurley (15,10) GI
Options:
Vilimoni Koroi (15,Utility) AU - Injured
Oscar Schmidt-Uili (11) Dunedin
Mefiposeti Tupou (14,13) Kaikorai - Landers U20
Oliver Foote (15) Kaikorai - Landers U20
Jermaine Pepe (15,Utility) University
Jeremiah Asi (11,15) University - Landers U20
Joe Cooke (14,15) Dunedin
Mackenzie Haugh (15,11) Southern
Waisake Naholo (14) Harbour - He is open to playing NPC
Mitchell Scott (14,Utility) Taieri - Seems to always come back in, has been playing club
(Martin Bogado - don't know his plans, maybe Argentina RWC Squad if selected)
(Freedom Vaha'akolo - haven't heard anything on him)

Could be wrong, but they'll carry five props (so I guess 7 if you include Bower and Kolomatagi). Lopas was a former Crusaders Development player I believe so expect him to be there, unsure on the other one. Likewise, they only carried four locks last year (Remember, only 30 contracted players for Otago NPC). Assuming fitness, Stodart will be the 6th loosie.

Third Halfback could be anyone, not sure who the coaches are looking at. Again, they only carried two specialist 10s last year, and with Gilbert in the squad I'd be surprised if they differed from that. Midfield looking extremely light, especially with injuries. Picking that Whaanga and Burgess will get the nods, but that is an awfully young midfield. Outside backs is very much up in the air. Would be shocked if Naholo got picked because he has only been a bench option for Harbour and didn't play the Otago trial.

[Smudge]

[Stargazer]

@friedrugby said in Otago 2023:

I read this as Bower being ruled out of rugby for the rest of 2023. With respect to other players they said that they were ruled out for the rest of the SR season.

He had knee re-construction surgery last week and is expected to return to rugby in 2024.

https://www.crusaders.co.nz/latest/news/injury-update-george-bower/

[NateHill74]

@Bovidae Yes he is. Playing for Southern at the moment

[NateHill74]

@SouthernMann Oscar would be a on the verge. He does look promising but will be interesting if he did get picked. Freedom esk sort of from my view. Pepe and Asi will be able to step up I reckon, they'd just need the experience at the higher level and then they'll be good. Josh Whaanga I reckon is still a year away, didn't dominate in the trial like he has at club. Semisi has been dominant in club this year so could be worth a shout. Ale seems the best pick currently, then Lawrence and Reuben, those two can be back and forth. Ben Lopas is actually pretty good, good carrier, strong tackler and with a little more work, can go from a strong scrummager to a great powerful scrummager. Under the roof, it will be easier for backs to carry well, and away from home, if they come across bad weather, they'll be used to it and adapt to it well

[NateHill74]

Also Kemara isn't an option this year as he has been picked for Wellington in their shield squad

[Bovidae]

@NateHill74 said in Otago 2023:

@Bovidae Yes he is. Playing for Southern at the moment

Is he close to making the Otago squad?

[NateHill74]

@Bovidae Not really. Can't even crack the starting xv in club at the moment. Haven't seen him play too much. Been playing colts a lot

[SouthernMann]

Thanks @NateHill74 Stodart seems to be rated higher than Semisi? Has more than just a power game? Is Stodart more likely an eight than a six?

[NateHill74]

@SouthernMann Yeah. Will is more likely to be picked imo. He's more of a 6 but can play 8 which he does at prems. Would be too small for 8 in npc i think

[SouthernMann]

@NateHill74 So suggest a loose forward mix of

6 Haig, Stodart, Lentjes, Lio-Willie, Withy, Fischli
7 Withy Lentjes
8 Lio-Willie, Tupou-Ta'eiloa, Fischli

And with 10, if Millar is out for a long-term, do you think the Harbour 10 (Samate) could be a decent option, or will they look at a Caleb Leef, who might play both 10 and 15?

[frugby]

100%, if Millar is injured they'll play Gilbert at 10 (with a bit of Faleafaga).

[Kiwiwomble]

@friedrugby yeah probably, i just hope we're not hindering his development moving him around so much the the solution to every backline problem

[SouthernMann]

I'm hugely opposed to that. If his future is a 12/15 play him there. Trust the guys to play their positions. Not pick the seven best backs and fit them in.

[Kiwiwomble]

@SouthernMann i agree...i hope we can lure a 10 down south to support Ajay

[SouthernMann]

I think they just need to trust their guy.

[Kiwiwomble]

anyone have confirmation on how bad Millar was?

[frugby]

@Kiwiwomble Looked bad... I was there. Best case is probably he has redone the same injury and only misses the first few weeks. As for the Gilbert argument, what if his best position is actually 10? I don't want to have that specific, but I will say, at NPC level, most top players are way better than their worst. No point hampering the rest of the backs with a club level 10. I'm assuming Faleafaga, as the best 10 in club rugby will get the run, but I'm more saying, that Gilbert would be the next option after that.