The Silver Fern

It’s not often an Otago side wins when they are on the wrong side of the possession and territory battle. Haven’t seen an Otago side use the ball the way they did when they had it in years, much better to watch.

Thought Hastie and Cam Millar led them around the park well. Big shift from Stodart, expecting a big season from him. Thought the Otago loosies all played well. Some nice signs for week 1.

Tough game against the Magpies next week, let’s hope we continue to see positives signs and seeing key players continue to step up.

Few notable inclusions for the two dirt trackers sides named for the weekend.

Josh Tengblad is making his return from injury Jake Te Hiwi also returning from injury Lolofie, Ratcliffe, Toleafoa, Rangitutia all lining up

@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?

@Landers92 i need to find out a bit ore about the halfback protection, i get it before the ball is players, cant drag the half back in or drive past and take them out.....but if theyre playing the ball....they should be fair game

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago v BoP:

@bayimports HOW DARE we steal your colours 30 years before you existed 😉

That's the whole fun of it 🙂

@SouthernMann said in Otago v Auckland:

@frugby not 0/6

How good!

A lot can be said of the coach but the players need to step up and own the game plan and training as well. Over half the squad has plenty of super rugby experience and five of them are in the ABs XV. So there’s no excuses not to perform. The young guys need to take ownership of the team

ok...seeing Hurley actually bump off someone much bigger than him to set up that last try was a lot of fun

frustrating as that game showed everything thats right and wrong with us, dominant forwards...some good tries...we should have done better this year

@cgrant said in Waikato v Otago:

Parker has the physique of a SA forward.

He is definitely one of the larger no.8s in NZ.

Perofeta is still a frustrating player to watch. He makes a break and then throws a terrible pass.

@Kiwiwomble for large patches I thought Otago played well

@akan004 I think that's correct. The residency period of 5 years starts running from the age of 18 years, unless a player was already financially independent from his parents/caregivers before that age or the parents have moved here as well before the player turns 18. These exceptions don't apply in case of Fabian Holland. He turned 18 in 2020.

@ARHS said in BoP v Otago:

@bayimports yes had his best match today. Was disappointed by his erratic kicks in earlier matches.

Geeze the BOP locks do a lot of work.

Definitely - Selby-Rickit and Sangster have been huge as a pair for us.

@Steven-Harris said in Otago v Southland:

Finn Hurley must have put a bet on the drop kick option last play

i know right...was weird, southland already needed to score twice, if the guys are spent sure plug the corner, take a breath setting up the lineout, make the exit, drop goal really just gives them the good chance to counter from broken play