Millar excellent as Otago bounces back NPC
The scores
Otago ....................................... 25 Ray Nu’u, Thomas UmagaJensen tries; Cameron Millar 5 pen
Tasman ................................... 19 Timoci Tavatavanawai, Quentin MacDonald tries; Campbell Parata 3 pen
Halftime: Otago 118.
CAMERON Millar can dance.
Everybody knows the Otago first five is a deadly goalkicker — he drilled five penalties to help his side beat Tasman 2519 at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
But the 20yearold has revealed a little bit more about himself.
Turns out he can also slip tackles and set up the outside backs.
Millar helped set up a try in the first half with a lovely break.
His passing game and willingness to take the ball to the line belied a player of his experience levels.
Otago assistant coach Ryan Bambry said Millar was improving with each outing.
‘‘As you can see in the last couple of weeks, he has really grown,’’ Bambry said.
‘‘His big challenge as a game driver is understanding momentum — understanding what to do when we’ve got the ball and what to do when we don’t have it.
‘‘I think he is just going to keep getting better and better.’’
Thomas UmagaJensen was outstanding as well.
He shifted to centre when Jona Nareki limped off injured with an ankle complaint and formed a threatening midfield combination with Ray Nu’u, who came on for Nareki.
Nu’u got a nice offload to the big fellow in the second half and UmagaJensen bashed through a couple of tacklers to score a critical try.
He made several telling turnovers as well.
‘‘He has been awesome defensively,’’ Bambry said.
‘‘He’s carried strong and his work over the ball in the first two weeks has arguably been the best in our team, so he has added that skill set as well.’’
The most important turnover of the game came right at the end and it was lock Will Tucker who nabbed it.
Tasman kicked to touch from a penalty to set up a lineout drive with time all but up.
But Tucker climbed higher than anyone else and swatted it back on Otago’s side. It was promptly booted into touch and the final whistle sounded.
Otago had frittered away a 2213 lead against CountiesManukau the previous weekend. But there was no repeat of that heartbreak this time.
‘‘It was a pretty happy coaching box after getting run down on the final hooter last week.’’
Otago dominated the first half but lost Nareki.
He took a quick tap and brushed aside a couple of defenders on a run to the corner. But he got dragged down 20m short and tweaked his ankle.
He initially hobbled back into position but was replaced by Nu’u.
That forced a reshuffle. Josh Timu moved from centre to the wing and UmagaJensen moved out one to centre.
Nu’u scored soon after getting on, but the hard work was done by Millar.
He got under a clearance, ghosted through the defensive line and offloaded to fullback Sam Gilbert, who was hauled in just short.
Otago had the momentum and, a couple of phases later, Nu’u crossed in the corner.
Tasman struck back with a delightful try to winger Timoci Tavatavanawai.
Otago stretched its halftime lead of 118 to 2111.
Nu’u, who had a strong game, blotted his copybook with a yellow card for and infringement at a ruck when Tasman was battering away at the line.
Otago showed a lot of tenacity to repel wave after wave. But its line was eventually cracked when hooker Quentin MacDonald pushed his way over in a lineout drive.
It helped set up a tense finish.