Injuries force multitude of changes NPC

Dunedin, tomorrow, 2.05pm

OTAGO has dredged up a team with an emphasis on scooping up what was left.

A rough run of injuries has forced coach Tom Donnelly to think creatively about who he names for the critical match against Waikato at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow.

Take a deep breath and see if you can get through the list of injured players without taking another.

Halfback Nathan Hastie (shoulder) was ruled out before the season started.

Electric winger Jona Nareki lasted a couple of games before he succumbed to an ankle complaint.

Reliable hooker Ricky Jackson ruptured his Achilles in the damaging 3517 loss to Auckland at Eden Park.

Form second five Ray Nu’u (knee) still has two or three weeks to run on his rehabilitation plan.

Powerful midfielder

Thomas

UmagaJensen has a tight hammy.

Just to make things even more complicated in the midfield, rookie Jake Te Hiwi is also sidelined with a dodgy shoulder.

Ditto halfback James Arscott. His standdown is more precautionary, though.

Winger Vilimoni Koroi presented with delayed concussion symptoms post the 3226 loss to Wellington and is going through returntoplay protocols.

And Jack Leslie, who made his debut on Sunday, is another out with a shoulder problem.

Still holding your breath?

There is a lot to unpack there. Donnelly was philosophical about the challenges.

‘‘There is a few guys who have come on to the bench who will get an opportunity. It is what it is,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve got guys who are banged up

Otago: Sam Gilbert, Freedom Vahaakolo, Josh Timu, Josh Ioane, Mitchell Scott, Cameron Millar, Kemara HauitiParapara, Christian LioWillie, James Lentjes, Oliver Haig, Fabian Holland, Josh Dickson, Jermaine Ainsley, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole. Reserve: Brady Robertson, Tau Koloamatangi, Josh Hohneck, Will Tucker, Sean Withy, Kieran McClea, John Tapueluelu, Caleb Leef.

and the guys who have been playing really well for the development side get a chance.’’

The focus this week has been on getting its mojo back. Otago is on a threegame losing streak and it needs to turn it results around before its slips out of contention.

‘‘We have to have some confidence in our game. If we get it right, we are pretty dangerous.

‘‘We’ve just got to have some belief and energy . . . and we’ve got to be accurate.’’

As the last fit midfielder, Josh Timu retains his spot at centre. He will be joined by Josh Ioane, who is a specialist first five and has played at fullback as well.

Veteran Taieri midfielder Mitchell Scott has been called back into the Otago lineup.

He quietly retired from representative rugby following the 2020 season. But he was in fabulous form for the Eels during the club season and actually played for North Otago last weekend.

He will take the left wing spot vacated by Koroi.

Sam Gilbert, who has been Otago’s best back in the last few weeks, moves back to fullback and Freedom Vahaakolo will start on the right wing.

Fabian Holland returns to the starting lineup. The big lock missed the last two games after he was knocked out during a training session.

Tighthead Jermaine Ainsley had a break last weekend but has been named in the runon side, while Oliver Haig gets the gig at blindside ahead of Sean Withy.

It is on the bench where things get funky. University halfback Kieran McClea is in line for his debut. Taieri first five Caleb Leef and AlhambraUnion outside back John Tapueluelu are also on debut.

There is some experience on the bench, though. Prop Josh Hohneck has played a lot of rugby and lock will Tucker has been in solid form.

But Otago will be hoping it has a buffer before it has to lean too heavily on substitutes.

Waikato is one of the form teams in the competition and leads the Odds Pool with 30 points.

Otago is back in fifth place with 17 points and in danger of missing the cut for the playoffs.

If it is going to make the top four it will need to start winning and keep winning.