University is basically starting from the ground up in Dunedin premier rugby.
You can usually always count on University featuring in the playoffs and pressing for the title.
But the class of 2022 will have to make some big improvements and go on a winning streak to claim the banner this season.
The students have one win from five games and sit outside the top six with seven competition points. They were crushed 54-14 by Dunedin at Kettle Park last weekend and desperately need a win to get the campaign heading in an upwards trajectory.
The students host Kaikorai at the University Oval tomorrow and coach Peter McIntyre described it as a "season-defining game".
"Even though the scorelines might tell a different story, we are not that far away," he said.
"We are consistently breaking the advantage line. It is just our accuracy and discipline that has let us down. And that is hard to say."
Hard indeed for a team used to setting the benchmark. It has won the senior banner 51 times and last collected the title in 2019.
But there are a lot of fresh faces this winter and that lack of experience has translated into some poor results. Teams go through cycles but University has had a lot of change.
"I don’t want to labour on that because I think we’ve got some really exciting talent, but we are playing with seven or eight first-years in our team — that is a high number for Varsity."
They are also missing 20 players from last year. Players such as Sam Clare, Kilipati Lea and Giovanni Leituala have moved on, just to name a few. Josh Hill has transferred to Taieri.
Hooker Ricky Jackson was arguably the best player in club rugby last season but has been busy with the Crusaders, Highlanders outside back Josh Timu has made one appearance for University this season and Sean Withy has been rarely sighted.
"That is a lot of experience to replace in one year."
Southern will host Zingari-Richmond at Bathgate Park. Veteran Magpies No 8 Mika Mafi will bring up 100 premier games for the club.
Alhambra-Union is at home to Dunedin. It had planned to celebrate its 150th anniversary this weekend, but has put off the formal celebrations until next year due to Covid. However, the club should be busy with a good crowd expected for the Centennial Trophy game.
Arguably the game of the round will be between Green Island and Taieri at Miller Park. It is a repeat of last year’s final and three trophies are on the line — the Bezett, the Robb Cup and the Challenge Shield.
