These teams are listed on Rugbypass

Southtland

1 Jack Sexton
2 Jack Taylor
3 Morgan Mitchell
4 Mitchell Dunshea
5 Woody Kirkwood
6 Sam Fischli
7 Sean Withy
8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
9 Nic Shearer
10 Byron Smith
11 Scott Gregory
12 Matt Whaanga
13 Isaac Te Tamaki
14 Michael Manson
15 Rory van Vugt

16 Aukusitino Salanoa
17 Hunter Fahey
18 Paula Latu
19 Ale Aho
20 Cian Hurley
21 Connor Collins
22 Mika Muliaina
23 Faletoi Peni

Otago

1 Abraham Pole
2 Henry Bell
3 Saula Ma'u
4 Will Tucker
5 Joseva Tamani
6 Will Stodart
7 Harry Taylor
8 Christian Lio-Willie
9 Nathan Hastie
10 Cameron Millar
11 Jona Nareki
12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen
13 Josh Timu
14 Charlie Powell
15 Sam Gilbert

16 Liam Coltman
17 Benjamin Lopas
18 Rohan Wingham
19 Charles Elton
20 Lucas Casey
21 Bob Martin
22 Jae Broomfield
23 Samuel Nemec-Vial

Rather disappointed with a few of the selections.

Especially Coltman being selected ahead of Lolofie, and Elton ahead of Toleafoa.

The backs are basically who is fit.

Excited to see Mika Muliaina on the Southland bench

@SouthernMann I guess they see Elton as being able to cover lock, whereas Toleafoa is an out and out eight?

He was supposedly quite good in both pre-season games so should get his chance assuming CLW is away with the ABs.

@frugby said in Southland v Otago:

@SouthernMann I guess they see Elton as being able to cover lock, whereas Toleafoa is an out and out eight?

He was supposedly quite good in both pre-season games so should get his chance assuming CLW is away with the ABs.

Stodart can cover lock and goes 80. Not like Elton is a big bloke. Just a mid-sized battler of a six.

Trust your young guys. Play Toleafoa and Casey. Bring them on with 30 to go.

I think Casey will usurp Taylor in the pecking order quite quickly… I suppose the other consideration might be is that they see CLW playing the 80, and perhaps feel they want a tighter blindsided (e.g Stodart/Elton) as opposed to a ball runner.

Personally I’d be inclined to try run Southland off their feet, but I’m happy to wait for the game to reserve judgement.

Am excited to see how Broomfield goes, and find it intriguing Nemec-Vial has jumped Rangitutia, Nemec injured last year?

@frugby said in Southland v Otago:

I think Casey will usurp Taylor in the pecking order quite quickly… I suppose the other consideration might be is that they see CLW playing the 80, and perhaps feel they want a tighter blindsided (e.g Stodart/Elton) as opposed to a ball runner.

Personally I’d be inclined to try run Southland off their feet, but I’m happy to wait for the game to reserve judgement.

Am excited to see how Broomfield goes, and find it intriguing Nemec-Vial has jumped Rangitutia, Nemec injured last year?

Casey shouldn't be viewed as a seven. He is a ball running 6/8. The stats I've seen from club rugby have him dominating in the defenders beaten categories. While Taylor made a lot of impact at the breakdown.

Looked at Kaik's lineups for the club season. He started all but two of his games at 8, with those games at six.

@SouthernMann said in Southland v Otago:

@frugby said in Southland v Otago:

I think Casey will usurp Taylor in the pecking order quite quickly… I suppose the other consideration might be is that they see CLW playing the 80, and perhaps feel they want a tighter blindsided (e.g Stodart/Elton) as opposed to a ball runner.

Personally I’d be inclined to try run Southland off their feet, but I’m happy to wait for the game to reserve judgement.

Am excited to see how Broomfield goes, and find it intriguing Nemec-Vial has jumped Rangitutia, Nemec injured last year?

Casey shouldn't be viewed as a seven. He is a ball running 6/8. The stats I've seen from club rugby have him dominating in the defenders beaten categories. While Taylor made a lot of impact at the breakdown.

Looked at Kaik's lineups for the club season. He started all but two of his games at 8, with those games at six.

I’ve never been a great fan of Taylor. Be interesting to see what they do when they make changes then because would assume CLW plays the 80, and would assume Taylor will come off, so will be jnteresting to see who lines up at open side.

Ratcliffe is the other open side they signed, but the coaches don’t seem to rate him at this stage.

I doubt the All Blacks will be playing 80. I'd expect he plays 50 to 60. With Casey coming on. Taylor Will play 80.

Unfortunately during the club season about half of the openside flankers who lined up most weeks are not eligible for Otago. Taieri had Michael Loft, Kaik Michaels and Rutledge, and Uni Jayden Broome. Plus add in Lepionka and a few others too. The pool of available loosies was a bit shallow.

Has anyone had any word on who the potential captain for the season will be?

@jimmyb said in Southland v Otago:

Has anyone had any word on who the potential captain for the season will be?

The captain is listed on the team sheet on socials.

Big crowd here today

Cam Millar continuing on his form from Super footy.

I forgot Shearer went to Southland. I reckon they got themselves a good one there. He played well for Canterbury last year and was unlucky not to get Preston's spot in the Saders I thought. Reminds me a lot of Hotham in the way he plays.

Southland aren't going to win giving up easy tries like that on restarts.

Stag Day is looking pretty good at the moment

Stag day is going well, awesome atmosphere....stags come back time!!!

Head contacts in the Npc viewed in a different light compared to other levels of rugby

I really enjoy the fizz that Jack Taylor offers

Didn't Scott Gregory bugger off overseas?

@Crazy-Horse

Yes, this is his first game in NZ since 2023

Final score 15-24 to Otago

@Crazy-Horse said in Southland v Otago:

Didn't Scott Gregory bugger off overseas?

@Steven-Harris said in Southland v Otago:

Head contacts in the Npc viewed in a different light compared to other levels of rugby

TUJ caused Withy to collide with Timu's head by cleaning him into Timu's path.

Solid start to the season by the stags.
The disallowed (correct call) was the winning of the game.

I'd give Jack Taylor stags mvp

How did CL-W go?

@sparky said in Southland v Otago:

How did CL-W go?

Added a lot of value. Really smart play both side of the ball.

From a both sides perspective.

Jack Taylor. Was absolutely everywhere. Did his core role really well and then made some top draw plays.

Hastie: was the primary playmaker for Otago. Was a real workhorse through the game. Will make a massive impact in Australia.

Stodart: probably one of his best top grade games. Played the big strong tough bastard role well.

Gilbert: just looks a quality player at this level.

Manson: looked more involved. From what I could see, not too many poor reads defensively.

Mika Muliaina: Some nice touches in his short stint. That floating plass on the right handside was quality. Thought Byron Smith was good too.

The intensity: the two sides went bloody hard at eachother.

Bad:

Cam Millar. Was quite a frustrating performance. Did was he was meant to have done well, poorly at time. It was a heck of a bomb from Manson, but you'd expect a Super quality player to catch those every day of the week.

Southland front five: normally a strength. They struggled at times.

On the whole both teams gave it a good go. Neither look like they will be pushing Ta$man, Canterbury or Taranaki but hopefully Otago could give it a nudge towards the top 8. Which will be a nice change.

It’s not often an Otago side wins when they are on the wrong side of the possession and territory battle. Haven’t seen an Otago side use the ball the way they did when they had it in years, much better to watch.

Thought Hastie and Cam Millar led them around the park well. Big shift from Stodart, expecting a big season from him. Thought the Otago loosies all played well. Some nice signs for week 1.

Tough game against the Magpies next week, let’s hope we continue to see positives signs and seeing key players continue to step up.

we are very fortunate to have Lio-Willie. he was instrumental in making sure Tupou Ta'eiloa had the most quiet game I've seen from him in ages