Otago

1 Abraham Pole, 2 Henry Bell, 3 Saula Ma'u, 4 Will Tucker, 5 Joseva Tamani, 6 Will Stodart, 7 Lucas Casey, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 9 Dylan Pledger, 10 Cameron Millar, 11 Jona Nareki, 12 Jake Te Hiwi, 13 Josh Timu, 14 Jae Broomfield, 15 Sam Gilbert

Reserves: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Benjamin Lopas, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Harry Taylor, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Josh Whaanga, 23 Samuel Nemec-Vial

Counties

1 Vainikolo Fifita, 2 Ioane Moananu, 3 Keran van Staden, 4 William Furniss, 5 Jimmy Tupou, 6 Dalton Papali'i, 7 Cameron Church, 8 Adam Brash, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 10 Jackson Rainsford, 11 Peniasi Malimali, 12 Rodney Tongotea, 13 Sione Molia, 14 Simon-Peter Toleafoa, 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo

Reserves: 16 Nicholas Muli, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Suetena Asomua, 19 Leo Ngatai-Tafau, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Cohen Brady-Leathem, 22 Gibson Popoali'i, 23 Antonio Popoali'i

@otago fans, do we have an alternative to Josh Broomfield? Haven’t seen last weeks game but thought he made some terrible decisions against Hawkes Bay

@jimmyb when Fit Finn Hurley, Kyran Rangitura and Jeremiah Asi but I think they're all injured? I'm assuming Charlie Powell is in the same boat too?

Whaanga can play wing, and is coming back from Injury so could be a good shout in the next few Weeks. Te Hiwi too - unless TUJ is injured again.

Anymore players go down and we'll need Waisake Naholo to lace up the boots.

@handa457 said in Otago v Counties:

@jimmyb when Fit Finn Hurley, Kyran Rangitura and Jeremiah Asi but I think they're all injured? I'm assuming Charlie Powell is in the same boat too?

Whaanga can play wing, and is coming back from Injury so could be a good shout in the next few Weeks. Te Hiwi too - unless TUJ is injured again.

Anymore players go down and we'll need Waisake Naholo to lace up the boots.

Asi may be injured at the moment. Rangitutia is available. Played for one of the second string teams yesterday. Charlie Powell is available. Hasn't been picked since round 1.

Broomfield feels like a pick of a cosch who has spent the last decade and a bit living in Canterbury. A guy he is familiar with.

Pledger just looks so good. That short-side play and the flat ball to Gilbert. Two quality plays.

That was absolutely village from Nareki

@SouthernMann said in Otago v Counties:

Pledger just looks so good. That short-side play and the flat ball to Gilbert. Two quality plays.

He’s so much like early days Aaron Smith, maybe slightly more physical, and I love it.

Dalton Papali’i out for the game with a failed HIA. Big blow for counties

@Landers92 said in Otago v Counties:

@SouthernMann said in Otago v Counties:

Pledger just looks so good. That short-side play and the flat ball to Gilbert. Two quality plays.

He’s so much like early days Aaron Smith, maybe slightly more physical, and I love it.

Got sat on his arse by ENS but got up quickly to go again. Good determination from a bloke of under 80kg.

I know I'm a broken record with Millar. After watching him for four seasons now. I have come to the conclusion he is just an ok provincial player. That is the standard we should expect from him. He will drop high balls. Miss tackles. Then make the right decisions. Accept that is his level and not be surprised when he makes mistakes or plays you'd see from guys at that level. He isn't a Super starting 10 though.

Beautiful team Try as Pledger scores

Lovely work CLW. Great support lines by Nareki and Pledger to finish it off

Interesting that Stodart dropped into lock with Haig coming on. Last week it was the other way around.

CLW has thoroughly outplayed Sotutu

Will Tucker goes very well at this level

How the heck did Millar miss that from straight in front...

Got the 5 points which is the main thing, smart by the coach to take off pledger and Lio-Willie when the game was wrapped up. Will be good to see two contenders in the prime time slot Saturday night

I personally thought Millar was a bit better today, but his limitations are clear. I have seen far worse 10s for Otago than him though!

@frugby said in Otago v Counties:

I personally thought Millar was a bit better today, but his limitations are clear. I have seen far worse 10s for Otago than him though!

He is a fine provincial level 10. As long as fans know that is his level. He is the standard 10 we have had come and go out of the Otago set up. Hayden Parker, Fletcher Smith, Chris Noakes, Matt Berquist and Cam Millar. All have similarities. Better than experiments like Vili Koroi and imports like Finn Strawbridge though. Josh Ioane at his best was better than them all.

@SouthernMann said in Otago v Counties:

@frugby said in Otago v Counties:

I personally thought Millar was a bit better today, but his limitations are clear. I have seen far worse 10s for Otago than him though!

He is a fine provincial level 10. As long as fans know that is his level. He is the standard 10 we have had come and go out of the Otago set up. Hayden Parker, Fletcher Smith, Chris Noakes, Matt Berquist and Cam Millar. All have similarities. Better than experiments like Vili Koroi and imports like Finn Strawbridge though. Josh Ioane at his best was better than them all.

Yep. Hence why Ioane played an All Blacks test - easy to forget how good he could be...