Tough draw for Otago at national tournament McCaw to tackle Coast to Coast
OTAGO has been hit with a tough draw but is intending to try to slide past the opposition at the national sevens tournament in Tauranga today.
Otago finished second at the regional qualifiers in Timaru a couple of weeks ago, and for its efforts will have to play North Island heavyweights Auckland and Waikato in pool play.
It will also have a southern derby against Southland, which is the other team in its pool.
Otago coach Roy Hawker will have Taylor Haugh back after he made his debut for the New Zealand Sevens side in Cape Town last weekend.
Haugh will team up with his older brother Mackenzie Haugh.
Gavin Stark will captain the team, and Josh Casey will play after missing the tournament in Timaru due to a last minute Otago: Gavin Stark (captain), Charles Elton, Logan Allen, Kieran McClea, Layne Opetaia, Kalin Thomas, Mackenzie Haugh, Taylor Haugh, Josh Casey, Ben Miller, John Tapueluelu, Roman Blackman.
Southland: Ignacio Costa (captain), Caleb Young, Leigh Bristowe, Nicolas Costa, Brad Kooman, Rodrigo Costa, Aleki Morris, Hayden Diack, Iwan Evans, Lewis Ormond, Jarel Hemehema, Viliami Tosi.
injury. University inside back Roman Blackman has also recovered from injury and has been named in the side.
Hawker said the side had come together well and fitness levels were good.
It did not have the power of the North Island teams so will look to play a game based around hanging on to pos session and using quick feet and speed.
Hawker said the players had been working on evasion and improving their ability to stay out of contact.
In sevens, defence took a lot more energy out of attack so it was critical for his side to keep possession and tire out the opposition.
Taylor Haugh had a standout tournament in Timaru where he was the best player on the day, Hawker said, and he would again be a key man.
Harbour captain Charles Elton was the only true forward in the side with the likes of Ben Miller and Logan Allen capable of getting in and contesting the rough stuff. Miller has played at the national tournament before and his ability in the air will be an asset at kickoff time.
Waikato, which won tournament in January the this year, has Declan O’Donnell and Jordan Bunce in its side, so will be tough. Auckland is always strong. It has Joe Ravouvou, who is not currently playing for New Zealand as there is new criteria to meet citizenship requirements.
Southland will look to Lewis Ormond to spark the side while Aleki Morris has some speed for this game. Ignacio Costa will captain the side and is joined by his brothers Nicolas and Rodrigo.
Southland will play Waikato at 10.45am today and then Auckland at 1.25pm. It will meet Otago at 4.15pm.
Otago will play Auckland at 11.05pm then Waikato just two hours later, at 1.05pm. Otago and Southland need wins in the earlier games to make their clash at 4.15pm meaningful. Otago was 11th last year and Southland was 14th. FORMER All Black and new father Richie McCaw has signed up for February’s Coast to Coast n which he and longterm friend and Adventure Racing teammate Rob Nichol will take on the tandem team event.
The former All Black captain, who has just had a daughter with former Black Stick hockey player Gemma McCaw, said being called an adventure racer did not sit too comfortably with him just yet.
‘‘I’m someone, Rob’s probably the same, you need a little goal to keep you training and something that gets you on edge a little bit and Coast to Coast is one of those iconic events that I’ve always wanted to do,’’ McCaw said.
‘‘We just thought it might be good to do without putting too much pressure on yourself, like doing it on your own in one day, but by doing it together, I think it’s a great event to do that.’’
After the baby, a girl called Charlotte Rose McCaw, was born this week, McCaw realised he might be consigned to a wind trainer and a treadmill close to home in the leadup to the event.
Nichol has been racking up the kilometres through Goat Pass and kayaking the Waimakariri River alongside mentor Bob McLachlan, of Wanaka.
‘‘I’m so lucky and have learnt so much [from Bob], especially in the water. You know I was pretty novice kayaking and that, but he’s one of the best around,’’ Nichol said.
The change in format from the nonstop adventure racing is also something that McCaw feels will be a challenge in itself.
‘‘I think it’s going to be different to perhaps the multiday where you’re able to keep a nice, even pace for a long time, McCaw said.
‘‘This has got a bit more intensity to it, but I think you’ve got to be careful you don’t blow yourself out early and stuff like that so that’s the bit that will be really intruding. I’m really looking forward to it.’’
The tandem event involves both competitors doing the entire course over two days together, staying within 50m of each other on the bike and run sections, while paddling the Waimakariri River leg together in a double kayak.
The twoday Coast to Coast starts on February 8, and the oneday event starts the next day.