Otago’s Shield defence todo list

Sports writer Adrian Seconi names five aspects of the game Otago will need to get right to avoid a repeat of the 2013 Ranfurly Shield loss to Hawke’s Bay.

Discipline

Lecture time. Otago will need to be on its best behaviour inside its own half.

That is a nonnegotiable. If Hawke’s Bay get a penalty anywhere in the 50 it will plug the corner and set up a lineout drive.

Veteran hooker Ash Dixon is like a snake on a rat in a situation like that. And it never ends well for the rat. Swallowed whole, usually.

Spin it wide

No brainer. The conditions are always perfect under the roof and Otago loves a hard and fast track.

The very obvious game plan is to get the ball to Vilimoni Koroi, Freedom Vahaakolo or Jona

Nareki and stay on their shoulder.

If that trio were all donuts they would still get past Kim Dotcom.

And the more Otago can manoeuvre the Hawke’s Bay pack around, the better. It would be handy if the home team could avoid engaging in too many set pieces as well.

Get low

And push. Sooner or later Otago will find itself backed on to its line and trying to fight back a lineout drive.

Time was set aside during Friday’s training to combat or at least find a way to contain the rolling maul.

Hawke’s Bay is awfully good at it, but if everyone sticks to their role then sometimes you can hold back the tide. But not for wave after wave.

Patience

Keep calm. There is always more time than you think. As eager as Otago will be to get the ball to the outside channels, it is better to suck in one more defender than throw a speculative pass. And take the points and build pressure. A kick to the corner might work for Hawke’s Bay incredibly well, but three points might help squeeze the life out of the challenge.

Embrace the moment

As much as Otago would have tried convincing itself it is just another game — it isn’t. The Ranfurly Shield may have lost some of its lustre since Super Rugby has emerged. But it is still a symbol of provincial pride and that brings with it an extra edge.