Old Golds coach: local rivalry should fire us up this week

Heartland Championship

THERE should not be any issue with the attitude this week.

North Otago will host Heartland Championship frontrunners South Canterbury in Oamaru today.

It is the derby match and the resumption of a great rivalry.

North Otago is the defending champion, having won the Meads Cup in 2019.

The Heartland Championship was cancelled last year due to Covid and South Canterbury has emerged as the early pacesetter this season.

It has won all four games by comfortable margins, and according to North Otago coach Jason Forrest is the best team in the competition right now.

They sound very much like the words of a coach who is trying to light a fire under his troops.

Forrest was not happy with the attitude in the narrow 1210 win against Poverty Bay in Oamaru last weekend.

‘‘We weren’t that good last week. We were disappointed in ourselves,’’ Forrest said.

‘‘It was just our attitude and execution, really. We’d come off a really good win against MidCanterbury and it can be hard to backup, especially with an inexperienced group.

‘‘But if we can’t get up for this game with our attitude and energy and that sort of thing . . .’’ he said, trailing off.

‘‘It’s our neighbours across the bridge.’’

North Otago has made a moderate number of changes.

Experienced hooker and captain Sam Sturgess returns to the starting lineup.

He had a niggle last week and missed the game against Poverty Bay.

Green Island loose forward Sean Jansen has been named at lock.

‘‘He has been playing for Otago B at lock and playing very well.’’

‘‘We get five weeks to register loan players, so this is our fifth week of the competition. But it

Oamaru, today, 2.30pm

North Otago: Levi Emery, Lemi Masoe, Hayden Todd, Alipate Tuipulotu, Maui Mataroa, Abel Magalogo, Jake Matthews, Charles Elthon, Toni Taufa, Manulua Taiti, Sean Jansen Oliver Kinzett, Tristan Fuli, Sam Sturgess, Kelepi Funaki. Reserves: Ralph Darling, Melikisua, Jake Greenslade, Cameron Rowland, Matthew Duffy, Owen Davey, Matthew Voccea.

South Canterbury: Zac Saunders,

Sireli Buliruarua, Zach McKay, James Hawkey, Kalavini Leatigaga, Sam Briggs, William Wright, Siu Kakala,

Nick Stachan, John Borland, Anthony Amato, Henry Bryce, Tokomaata Fakatava, Junior Faave, Mathew Fetu. Reserves: Conor Anderson, Taufa Hala’ufia, Solomone Lavaka, Cam Russell, Loni Toumohuni, Theo Davidson, Luke Glen.

❛ We weren’t that good last week. We were disappointed in ourselves. —

North Otago coach Jason

Forrest

was a big call having to leave out [fellow loan player] Aron Einarsson.

‘‘But we needed to get Sean in and Tristan Fuli has been going really, really well for us.’’

Charles Elton is the other loan player and he has retained his spot at No 8.

Oliver Kinzett gets a start at lock in another change in the pack.

‘‘He is a young exciting guy and we need guys with energy this week.’’

Manulua Taiti played lock last week but will return to his usual spot on the side of the scrum.

Veteran Lemi Masoe moves from the bench to a starting role on the right wing.

His experience will be needed in what is an inexperienced backline.

‘‘He is just that cool head that we need out there.’’