Otago’s victory in 1998 no accident
As the successful 1998 Otago rugby side gets together today to celebrate its achievement from 20 years ago, rugby writer Steve Hepburn walks down memory lane.
THE moon and stars all came to align for the Otago team in 1998. But it was a planned alignment. It did not just happen through accident.
Building over the years, players had slowly found their way to Dunedin.
The work of the likes of Des Smith, who was heavily involved in New Zealand schools rugby, and coaches Tony Gilbert and Phil Young, had convinced many of the players to commit to the South.
However, you can have all the stars in the world but what is needed is belief and confidence.
A year before, in 1997, with most of the same players, Otago had finished out of the playoffs in the national competition.
But in the last game of the season that year it had soundly beaten Canterbury 3513 at Carisbrook.
That gave the side some momentum going into the next year, backed up by the Highlanders making it all the way to the Super Rugby playoffs.
Otago, however, started the season slowly as its All Blacks were away and there was a heavy loss to Waikato and another defeat to Auckland.
But after the All Blacks returned and a stern warning from coach Gilbert about having to perform, the side got on a roll.
It won its last six games by a combined total of 37570 with a win in the final against Waikato at Carisbrook 4920.
Otago started the final slowly and it was tight at halftime.
Forwards Isitola Maka and Josh Kronfeld had to go off because of injury in the first half but replacements Kelvin Middleton and Simon Maling played their part as Otago pulled away to win 4920.
When contacted this week, Middleton said it did not seem like 20 years had passed since the final and it was great memories.
‘‘It was just purely good times. We just had so much confidence.
‘‘We had a team that just knew we would win,’’ he said.
‘‘Admittedly in the final it was tight at halftime but we just had pure belief that we would get through in the end.’’
Middleton said much credit had to go to coaches Gilbert and Young, who let the team express itself in the last few games of the season. The All Blacks had just come off a season in which they had lost five games in a row and were rejuvenated by the Otago environment.
‘‘We spent a lot of time together and wanted to do it for each other. Just a bunch of good mates.
‘‘We did have some outstanding players, there is no doubt about that. But you’ve got to give credit to those guys who played in the earlier games. The Matt O’Connells, Duncan Blaikie, Charlie and Andrew Hore. They were young guys back then but helped us get to where we ended.’’
The game was different 20 years ago. It had only gone professional at the end of 1995.
‘‘First of all we just had the two replacements that day. And those guys got injured. In those days you would never come off unless you were really injured.
‘‘The big factor for us back then was we were allowed to be a bit freer in the game. We were not under so much pressure. You could play the way you wanted too and enjoy it.
‘‘Tony and Phil used to give us that freedom. There was plenty of fun to be had.
‘‘I’m not sure the guys these days are still having as much fun as we used to.’’
The game these days was much different than in 1998. Virtually no All Blacks play for their provinces and Super
Rugby is dominant.
But the friendships of 1998 still sit strong 20 years on.
‘‘There has been a bit of banter going on between everyone. It will be just great to have a catchup, along with the netball girls of course, and have a good yarn.’’
A look back at the successful 1998 Otago netball team will feature tomorrow.