Bruised Otago focus on defence ahead of final
SCINTILLATING ATTACK has got his team this far, but Otago coach Tony Brown believes it’s time to get a little defensive-minded.
Brown’s side will meet Tana Umaga’s explosive Counties Manukau Steelers in provincial rugby’s Championship final at EcoLight Stadium in Pukekohe on Friday night.
Both sides won high-scoring semifinals – Otago having to come back from an 18-31 deficit to take a thriller 41-34 – and have carved their way to the final thanks to the strength of their attack and ability to put quick points on the board.
But with the stakes so high – the winner will be promoted to the Premiership for next season – Brown admitted he would be putting some special attention into his team’s defence this week.
‘‘Our style is probably similar to Counties’ but we’ve got to be able to defend as well, to beat them. It will be a key focus for us to try and shut down their attack.
‘‘They’re a very dangerous team, with good ball-carriers and if you give them any space they’re going to punish you. That’s what happened to Southland.
‘‘We’re going to have to be pretty sharp on defence because they can cut any team to pieces.’’
Defensive fortitude has not exactly been Otago’s forte this season, and in the first half against Tasman they were broken too easily down the middle of the park. In the second spell their tackling got better, but two intercept tries put them under the pump.
But you can’t fault the character of this young Otago side under Brown. Time and again this season they’ve fought back from big deficits and on Friday night they also played through the pain barrier.
First- five Hayden Parker winced his way through some deep bruising in his hip flexor area, flanker Lee Allen has broken ribs and big ballcarrying loosie TJ Ioane is also severely banged up.
Brown is hoping all three will be better for another week’s mending time but he’s certain of one thing: ‘‘I’m sure they’ll all want to play in the final.’’
Brown hadn’t heard yesterday whether he would get All Blacks Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison back for the final, but the likelihood is he will.
Regardless of who lined up, he said it would be a massive match for the province.
‘‘ Any time you play a final it’s pretty big,’’ said the former All Black. ‘‘The boys will enjoy that. It will be a good buildup this week, we’ll get up to Counties and it’ll be pretty exciting for our young boys. You can only gain experience from something like this.’’