The Silver Fern

The cheating Cantabs would have got away with it if wasn't for those meddling Journalists. Larry the Lamb has been unmasked.

Oct 27 Who was the speedster under the Larry the Lamb mask? Who was the speedster under the Larry the Lamb mask?

Canterbury’s Larry the Lamb stormed to victory in the mascot race during the half-time show at Saturday’s NPC final - but there was a good reason...

Was a game for the ages and the performance by the forward pack was immense. I heard Tucker & Wingham made 20 tackles each

@Kiwiwomble said in QF: Otago v Waikato:

@brodean probably fair, but that tells me we just need to be better with players IN the system rather than leaving them to "develop" for years, i think take players on hot form and expose them to the next level...rather than play it too safe and then wonder why they didn;t kick on

Agree completely.

But you have to wonder what the point of having 4 players deep is if youre not going to pick the player of those 4 who is in form now?

Just watched the game after getting back from work. Wow are the past 3-4 years paying off. Execution of the basics and the game plan was top notch and the team looked v composed and level headed. Can’t remember the last time Otago completely blew a team out like that.

Hastie may have overplayed his hand a tad at times but he’s an excellent back up for the play offs and his kicking game is v good.

Everyone seems to be hitting form at the right time.

@jimmyb said in Otago v North Harbour:

Only just watched the game, Millar has had a good few games in a row. Pleasing to see

He's really benefited from not having to be the primary playmaker.

@nostrildamus he was into everything. Full game. One try and did he core jobs well.

@Landers92 Pretty bang on with what you said mate. Otago seem to reaping the benefits of investing in youth over last few years. I a Naki man, but could be quite happy to see Otago go all the way in NPC.
I quietly suggest JJ has had this young fellas (especially from the region, but from around country too) and I suspect you will see even more pay for that policy in next few years.
Also how good is Pledger, reminds me of a young Aaron Smith, has his feet is such a sweet position as he gets to rucks etc and just sweeps ball off ground and lets it go, can pass both ways well too.

How good was this!

Really good defence. Pledger as the primary playmaker from halfback.

Will Stodart looking like an absolute beast!

Those two botched attacking lineouts by Northland prevented any chance of a comeback. Very few chances otherwise.

Otago's defence was very good.

@SouthernMann said in Ta$man v Otago:

On the whole a reasonably good performance. Which we should have won.

It is amazing what three or four class players can do at NPC level. Lio-Willie was immense and Bower lifted the team when he came on. Pledger is already a dominant player at this level.

Nareki's display defensively was top notch. Really led the way.

The team defensive effort again was fantastic.

Thought it was Te Hiwi's best game.

Apart from his dumb shit play running behind a player. Bell proved, again he is a capable player at this level. See, Guardian of the Bell boys. Compliments where they are due.

Casey showed he will be interchangeable with Lasaqa with rhe Landers. Such similar players.

Apart from the penalty at the end, was Wingham's best game in a longtime.

On the negative. Jeez Sammy Gilbert and Millar can make some simple errors.

On the whole, this Otago side is doing what it was building towards for a while. It should be there at rhe business end of the year.

Pledger and Casey were v good. How heavy is Casey? Looked a little light in contact a few times but also don’t want to sacrifice the speed he has

@SouthernMann said in Otago v Counties:

@frugby said in Otago v Counties:

I personally thought Millar was a bit better today, but his limitations are clear. I have seen far worse 10s for Otago than him though!

He is a fine provincial level 10. As long as fans know that is his level. He is the standard 10 we have had come and go out of the Otago set up. Hayden Parker, Fletcher Smith, Chris Noakes, Matt Berquist and Cam Millar. All have similarities. Better than experiments like Vili Koroi and imports like Finn Strawbridge though. Josh Ioane at his best was better than them all.

Yep. Hence why Ioane played an All Blacks test - easy to forget how good he could be...

So good seeing Casey going from carving up at club level to doing it NPC too.

Him and Pledger have just gone straight in as key guys. Both them need to play big minutes.

Those face balls from Millar are his nicest attacking moves. He has done it plenty of times with Hurley as well. Good to play to his strength with those plays.

@Grooter said in Otago v Hawkes Bay:

Magpies get the chocolates. as for my Otago well Lucas Casey needs to be starting at 7 for us from now on

Personally would like to see a back row of Haig 6, Casey 7, Stoddard 8. It’s the most well rounded and brings the most to the set piece and ruck. Thought Toleafoa was sea gulling at the ruck far too much and doesn’t seem like a viable option at lineout. Taylor was ok at 7 but Casey is an upgrade

we are very fortunate to have Lio-Willie. he was instrumental in making sure Tupou Ta'eiloa had the most quiet game I've seen from him in ages

@Grooter said in Otago 2025:

@Chris always good Info from you Chris cheers, makes me think Cam Millar might have a Welsh or Scottish granny lol

With a name like Cam(eron)? And Millar, a miller, a vocation with an association to Glasgow? No way!

How could anyone think that name is Scottish!

Cameron Millar - Screen Academy Scotland

@SouthernMann said in Northland v Otago:

@frugby said in Northland v Otago:

@SouthernMann said in Northland v Otago:

This experiment of Whaanga on the wing needs to stop.

I don't rate it at all... having said that, need to go out and get some actual wingers for next season, because every 'actual' winger we tried was atrocious.

At least Whaanga can guarantee decent carrying, decent aerial ability, and (generally) good defence. No doubt his long-term home is in the midfield though.

I'm firm we do not recruit. Too expensive. Kyan Rangitutia is a decent up and coming winger. Is only 19. Jeremiah Asi was out for the whole year. Nareki, of course missed most of the year. The NPC is not a competition you recruit seasoned players for. Whaanga's future is as about a 105 - 110 kg centre. Player who can stand in the tackle and off-load. He should be a similar build to SBW. Not a winger.

Guess it depends what you want to do, but I actually think as you eluded to in the other thread next year we should actually have the squad to have a crack at things. That window is only going to be a one year opportunity I think (though a good new coach might get way more out of the players of course)... I would personally bury my head in the sand and would recruit a winger. Bring the Junkyard Dawg to the glasshouse!

Watching the highlights it seems Otago yo-yo’d between decent footie and some seriously dumb and awful defence

Saw the highlights. Boys against men

Are you his mother?