Southern rivals face a big test
RUGBY
IT will be the first and only real test for Otago and Southland at what will be a deserted Rugby Park Stadium this afternoon.
The two southern unions will meet in a final warmup game before the Mitre 10 Cup kicks off next week.
Otago will travel down this morning in mini vans, coming off a solid week’s training but no real game time.
The team had an opposed training run with North Otago a couple of weeks ago and then players, minus the Super Rugby contingent, played in a trial match on August 26.
The side was named the following day and this week the players have been working on the training field. Super Rugby players have joined the team, although Sio Tomkinson, George Bower, Liam Coltman and Josh Ioane are away with the South Island team in Wellington.
Southland players have also yet to play a competitive game together. The team was set to have a game of three halves — which turned into a form of a training run — and then also had a trial on August 27.
Southland named its squad on Thursday.
Both sides will want to lay down benchmarks and look for combinations. At least Southland does not have the distraction of South Island players coming back into the team next week.
It will have Logan Crowley and Scott Eade in the inside backs. Crowley was Southland’s best last year and spent some time with the Highlanders at the later part of the season.
Eade has been in and out of the Southland team and has never really put together a good run of games, but will be out to make a statement this early on.
Southland is still on the hunt for a midfield back, so will want to make sure players do not pick up any costly injuries.
Otago will look to Harrison Boyle at first fiveeighth. Ioane is the obvious first choice, but may get picked up for the All Blacks.
Vilimoni Koroi is another option at first fiveeighth, as is Levi Emery.
Nasi Manu, so often a No 8, is on the blindside flank and it will be his first game in months. A lot has changed in his life since he left the Highlanders in 2015, but his desire to play the game to a high level remains.
Otago coach Tom Donnelly wants his side to go out and do what they had learnt on the training field. He said it was still a game against Southland, so pride would be at stake.
Otago meets Auckland in Dunedin next Saturday, while Southland hosts Hawke’s Bay next Sunday.
Fine weather has been forecast for Invercargill today.