Otago missing regular locks

IT is a tall order to win at Eden Park and Otago will be missing some tall timber for its match against Auckland tomorrow.

Lock Josh Dickson is in camp with the All Blacks and fellow second rower Will Tucker is making his way back from a niggly calf injury. Fabian Holland and Josh Hill will take up the mantle in their absence.

Otago has made a couple of other changes to the pack that took the field for the 3732 win over Southland on Sunday.

Regular captain James

Lentjes is on the bench, and blindside Oliver Haig also drops to the pine and will provide locking cover.

Sean Withy and Sam Fischli take their places. Withy will captain the side while Lentjes is on the sideline.

There are two changes in a backline missing Thomas UmagaJensen, who is out for two weeks with a groin strain.

Ray Nu’u will start at second five instead, and New Zealand under20 winger Jake Te Hiwi will make his first start for Otago.

He gets the nod ahead of Freedom Vahaakolo, who drops to the bench.

Te Hiwi came on late during the 1813 win over Hawke’s Bay in Dunedin. It was his debut and he was called on to secure a crossfield kick as the Magpies chased a late try to steal victory.

Otago’s track record against Auckland at Eden Park has not been terribly impressive during the years.

Its 3225 win in 2011 snapped a losing streak stretching back to 1976.

Otago has added another win over Auckland at Eden Park since then, though. It beat Auckland 3126 in 2018, which was the last time the two sides met.

Auckland has three wins from four games and leads the Evens pool of the NPC, but it was beaten 2117 by Bay of Plenty at Eden Park in its last outing.

Otago started with a disappointing 2322 loss to CountiesManukau.

However, it has won its past three games and shares top spot with Hawke’s Bay in the Odds pool.

It is an important crossover game for both sides. A win will greatly enhance each team’s prospects of reaching the playoffs.