He said then it could prove costly, and how right he was.
With two round-robin games remaining, Otago is still chasing the pack. It is firmly in must-win territory.
The first task is to beat Manawatu in Palmerston North tomorrow afternoon, and then edge Canterbury in Dunedin the following week.
Had Otago held on to the ball for another 90 seconds in that opening game, it would have three more competition points and a little more leeway.
‘‘As soon as we lost that game I knew it could [be trouble],’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve still got a chance, but it just seems our pool seems to be a lot better than the other one in terms of being even.’’
Canterbury has cleared out in the Evens Pool, whereas there is more of a logjam in the Odds Pool.
There are just six points separating the top four sides, while Otago is still clinging to hope a further four points back in fifth place.
Lentjes has been named on the bench for the match against Manawatu. He has had a heavy workload recently. He has also been relieved of the captaincy for the game.
Sean Withy will take up that role and start on the openside. They have swapped roles this week.
The most notable change has come in the troubled midfield, where Josh Timu was the last man standing.
He has an ankle complaint and has joined Ray Nu’u, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Jake Te Hiwi in the injury ward.
‘‘He has tweaked his ankle and he has been pretty beaten up the last few games,’’ Lentjes said.
‘‘But he has been just unreal for us.’’
Timu nabbed an intercept try to seal a 27-20 win against Waikato last weekend. That victory has been a lifeline of sorts for Otago.
In Timu’s absence, Mitchell Scott moves in one slot from the wing to centre.
He had a tremendous club season for Taieri this year and is an experienced campaigner. He had retired from top level rugby but has answered an SOS.
Hooker is another challenging area for Otago. Ricky Jackson is gone for the season and Brady Robertson suffered a heavy knock against Waikato and has been ruled out.
Otago development hooker Harry Press has been named on the bench and will be on debut. Taieri first five-cum-fullback Caleb Leef has also been named on the bench.
He was named in the game day 23 last week, but did not get on so is still on debut.
While Otago is down on its luck, Lentjes said the mood in the camp was still positive.
It is focused on putting out a couple of quality performances and hopefully that will be enough to slip into the play-offs.
NPC - Palmerston North
Sunday at 2.05pm
OTAGO: Sam Gilbert, Freedom Vahaakolo, Mitchell Scott, Josh Ioane, John Tapueluelu, Cameron Millar, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Christian Lio-Willie, Sean Withy (captain), Oliver Haig, Will Tucker, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole.
Reserves: Harry Press, Tau Koloamatangi, Josh Hohneck, Joshua Hill, James Lentjes, Kieran McClea, Caleb Leef, Sam Fischli.
MANAWATU: Drew Wild, Tima Fainga’anuku, Taniela Filimone, Jason Emery, Ed Fidow, Brett Cameron, Luke Campbell, Brayden Lose, Johnny Galloway, TK Howden, Ofa Tauatevalu, Micaiah Torrence-Read, Sean Paranihi, Siua Maile, Joseph Gavigan.
Reserves: Ben Strang, Harrison Allan, Flyn Yates, Veikoso Poloniati, Potu Leavasa, Logan Henry, Sam Clarke, Louis Rogers.
