Coach opts for experience
LIAM Coltman just loves the game.
Playing, training, reading or watching, Coltman will not complain.
The 28yearold is back in the Otago starting lineup to take on Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup championship final tomorrow night.
He returns off the back of a Rugby Championship campaign with the All Blacks where he was part of the squad for all six games, but got only five minutes on the paddock in the dying minutes of the test against South Africa in Wellington last month.
Coltman played the second half against Hawke’s Bay in the semifinal last weekend, and said he was glad to be back for Otago.
‘‘I just want to get out there and play some footy. The boys are playing awesome and anything I can do to help is great,’’ Coltman said.
‘‘Being in the All Blacks was awesome. It is every kid’s dream to be in the squad and just being part of it . . . you are always learning when you are with the All Blacks. Just in your core role and then in all the other skills. Working on what you think are your weaknesses and then still working on your strengths.
‘‘Everyone there is the same, just wanting to get better. You talk to Colesy [Dane Coles] and Codie [Taylor] and they are doing the same thing. Just working hard on all those little things in the game.’’
Coltman said he never had an issue with the lack of minutes with the All Blacks, and was enjoying the time with the national squad.
‘‘It is pretty hard to argue about not getting picked when you’ve got someone like Dane Coles back in the squad — probably one of the best players to wear the No 2 jersey for the country.’’
The coaches had provided plenty of feedback on his game, and he was continuing to work hard on improving it.
The five minutes that Coltman got in Wellington were akin to being thrown right into heated battle, as the All Blacks searched for a way to win the test against South Africa.
He did all that was asked of him, throwing the ball in to a lineout accurately as tensions were high.
‘‘It was awesome to get out there for those last five minutes. I was a little bit nervous but I’m like that in every game. It’s not a bad thing to be nervous — it means you care about the game.’’
The only drawback to an international career was spending time away from family and friends.
His daughter Tilly had her first birthday earlier this month, and Coltman kept in touch with the family through technology. His daughter was not quite walking yet.
‘‘I even managed to get out and have a surf at St Clair. But I was pretty rusty. There were a couple of nice ones [waves] though.’’
The focus for the next couple of days was on the final in Hamilton.
Coltman played in a final for Otago way back in 2012 and said at the end of the day it had to be approached as just another game of footy.
It will be his first start for Otago for two years.
He said in the All Blacks camp, players still keenly followed their provincial teams, so he has been watching the Otago games with Ben Smith and physiotherapist Peter Gallagher.
He said Otago had played very well and importantly had improved as the season had gone on.
He played the second half last week and impressed, though the lineout was not always spot on.
‘‘I’ve got to catch up on everything. Do a bit of reading and some training. But it will hopefully come together.’’
❛ It is pretty hard to argue about not getting picked when you’ve got
someone like Dane Coles back in the squad — probably one of the best players to wear the No 2 jersey for the
country