Canterbury an opponent at a whole new level
OTAGO is midway through its campaign — now it gets to mix with the big boys.
Canterbury comes to town today and is followed by Auckland next Friday night as Otago faces three Premiership teams in the second half of its season.
The side played well in its win over Southland last Saturday but Canterbury is a completely different kettle of fish.
There has been talk the Canterbury side of this year is not what it used to be. Too many good players have departed and the replacements are not quite up to the same standard.
There may be an ounce of truth in those thoughts but this is still Canterbury.
It can still put out 10 Super Rugby players in its starting team and will put the foot on the throat should a chance arise.
It has some quality on the outsides and some hardnosed forwards up front.
Otago coach Ben Herring is excited about taking on Canterbury but is fully aware of what the team will have to combat.
Otago was addressed by former Otago and Highlanders coach Tony Gilbert this week, tying in with the reunion of the 1998 team which won the national provincial title.
‘‘It was good for our guys to hear. A lot of them were in awe of it really, just the way they played the game and the success they had,’’ Herring said.
‘‘When Tony was speaking, guys were respectful and listened to what he had to say, the way the team went about its work. That can only help us against Canterbury.
‘‘We had a good game against Southland last week and we don’t want to take a backward step. This is a chance for our guys to play against the big teams.’’
Otago has won three in a row and momentum is with it but beating Southland comfortably means very little next to taking on Canterbury.
The front row for Otago is green — props Giorgio Bower and Tom Hill have just two firstclass starts between them.
Compare that with the evergreen Chris King, who will hold up the tighthead side for Canterbury.
King (37) made his firstclass debut in 2002 and has played more than 200 firstclass games, many in Dunedin, as he played 107 games for the Highlanders.
Highlanders loosehead prop Daniel LienertBrown will be on the other side of the scrum for Canterbury.
The set piece is still a vital part of the game despite the benign conditions offered by the roofed stadium. Otago does have Tom Rowe back in the second row and his added height should give Otago more options at lineout time.
Otago has shown some enterprise in its backs of late but space is likely to be at a premium today.
Big games are needed from loose forwards Slade McDowall and Naulia Dawai while there should be plenty of incentive for No 8 Dylan Nel to get involved.
Nel was squeezed out in Canterbury and was forced to make the journey south, finding a home at the back of the Otago scrum.