‘We just need to be more clinical’
OTAGO did not need much of a pointer om what it needed to work on this week.
Finishing better and being clinical have been the subjects for Otago as it heads north to take on Auckland at Eden Park tonight.
The side has been able to create opportunities in its past games but scoring from them has become an issue.
That needs to be better against Auckland, which is riding high.
Otago coach Ben Herring said the side just needed to get tighter when the chances come along.
‘‘We want to keep playing the way we are playing but just need to be more clinical. Be a bit more patient when the chances come along,’’ he said.
‘‘We are creating the chances — that is not the problem. But we just have to tighten up our structure. We are all on the same page in what we are trying to do. Take away those lessons from last week and work on it.’’
The side had plenty of opportunities to score more points against Canterbury last Saturday but the last pass was often not accurate enough or the composure was not there when needed.
To get anywhere in the Mitre 10 Cup — or anywhere at this level — sides simply have to covert chances into points.
Herring admits the side he has picked to take on Auckland has one eye on next Wednesday’s game against Bay of Plenty.
It was important in the competition to win home games and doubly so home games against teams from your division. So Bay of Plenty shapes as a big contest.
New halfback Melani Matavao makes his first start for the team and Herring said he was excited for the young man.
Matavao (21) is a young player who only a couple of years ago was playing in his village in Samoa. But after playing at the Pacific challenge this year he picked up a World Rugby Combine deal which enabled him to work in a professional environment. That led to him joining Otago and he has come into the squad as the third halfback.
Herring said Matavao was an exciting player.
Matavao will be up against former Otago halfback Jonathan Ruru tonight.
Otago will have lock Josh Larsen on the bench, after his
quickerthanexpected recovery from a dislocated elbow. He will make his Otago debut should he get on the field tonight.
Herring said flanker James Lentjes was making good progress recovering from a prolapsed disc in his neck and may be right to play against Bay of Plenty or against Tasman on October 7.
It was also touch and go whether halfback Josh Renton, who broke a bone in his thumb early in the season, could play again this season.
Otago beat Auckland last year to win the Lin Colling Memorial Trophy and will look to defend it tonight.
Cloudy weather is forecast for Auckland tonight.