Rampant second half
Otago scored 35 points in a blistering second half, but the flurry was not completely out of the blue, despite their taking 38 minutes to get on the board. In the first half, Otago created opportunities, but dropped balls, ill-discipline and poor kicking options prevented them capitalising on any of their chances. Southland had done little to earn their lead, having not even left their own half to score six of their 12 points, and they rarely looked genuinely threatening. However, Otago became more accurate in the second half, applying pressure with ball in hand and running in a further four tries.
New laws having their impact
The new breakdown laws certainly had their impact, as both teams found themselves infringing for things that previously had been legal. Otago players in particular felt the brunt of the whistle in the first half, getting pinged for leaving their feet at the breakdown, while the contest for the ball was virtually non-existent. The laws are easy enough to understand, but it is harder to understand why they are a good idea other than to simplify things. They essentially remove the contest for the ball, which is the primary thing that separates rugby union from league.
All the penalties for players leaving their feet at the breakdown stemmed the flow of the game and seemed unnecessary. The reality of a ruck is that players probably are going to fall over from time to time and especially when the defending team isn’t committing players, does it really matter? Otago adapted to this better in the second half and it will have to be something they are careful of throughout the season.
Fast pace, running ball
Otago played with width and pace as they looked to play an expansive game. It was not unexpected, as provided you don’t get isolated, it is hard for the opposition to get the ball back. You just have to make sure you don’t make mistakes. And that was how the game went, with Otago proving too much to handle once they cut down their error-rate. They looked to attack the wider channels and were not afraid to give it to their outside backs to have a go, while regularly looking to keep the ball alive via offloads.
Lineout issues
The biggest work-on for Otago from this game was the lineout. At times it operated fine, but other times it looked a mess. In closer games you cannot afford to have avoidable instances such as no one jumping on their own throw. Given the importance possession will play in this year’s competition, getting the lineout right is going to be huge. It is not time for panic yet though. Early on in the season teams are often still adjusting to new rusty combinations and figuring out the timing required. These issues should smooth out over time, while the return of Tom Franklin will give Otago one of the competition’s best jumpers.
Players to stand out
Fa’asiu Fuatai caught the eye with ball in hand. The winger was electric every time he touched the ball, beating defenders and creating space for himself. He was a player Otago needed to get into the game and was used well when he set up a try for Michael Collins. James Lentjes had a strong game too, bringing physicality and seeming to be all over the paddock. The midfield combination of Collins and Tei Walden was solid, although Matt Faddes will likely slot in there when he returns. Dillon Hunt impressed with ball in hand, as did Paul Grant making his return to the competition. The halfback-first five-eighth pairing that finished the game impressed too and must be favoured to start the next game after shaky performances from Scott Eade and Jonathan Ruru.