Brain explosions, dumb plays, a rush of blood; whatever you call them, Otago must get rid of them to get better.
It had its chances to beat a Canterbury side that was hardly in inspiring form at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.
But bad passes, poor options and plain silly decisions ultimately cost the home side as it fell to a 29-16 loss.
Lock Daniel Ramsay said Otago had its chances in the first half but just could not take them.
"We are 90% to 95% there but there were a few brain explosions out there, me included, in the first half, which cost us," he said.
"Canterbury are an 80- minute team and we matched them for 75 minutes and then dropped off in that last five minutes and that cost us. Just that final five minutes really cost us, as we let them in for a soft try."
Otago led 13-11 at halftime, and had opportunities right throughout the game. But it was too sloppy with the ball in hand and its execution at times was not good enough.
The lineout was a mess for both sides, with too many crooked throws for a first-class match, although the officials were probably looking for too much perfection.
Ramsay said the side had looked to move the ball around and was inspired by the loud crowd.
"We tried to move the ball round and it is a great deck to play on. The crowd really makes it hard to call. I had to relay the lineout calls down the line because of the crowd.
"They really geed us up but in the end, we let them down with that last five minutes. We were right in the game until then."
Otago did indeed still have a sniff with five minutes left and replacement lock Rob Verbakel was pushed out within a hair's breadth of the corner.
Otago got the ball back somehow but winger Buxton Popoali'i threw the ball straight to big Canterbury centre Robbie Fruean and he ran 50m untouched to score and seal the match.
Popoali'i probably sums up the Otago problem. He is an exciting player who can do some great things but is also capable of delivering a clanger. The team also has to get rid of the horrible chip kick tactic.
There were some good individual performances from the home team, with No 8 Gareth Evans showing some real strength and pace and fellow loose forward TJ Ioane continuing to impress.
Tony Brown did not do much wrong when on the field and Glenn Dickson was again accurate with the boot.
Otago had started well, scoring the first try of the match after 12 minutes, through a nice break by centre Ben Atiga finished off by winger Ben Smith.
Canterbury replied with a try by Tyler Bleyendaal, and then midway through the second half Otago let in a soft effort to fullback Tom Taylor who waltzed through some timid defence after another one of those forgettable Otago chip kicks.
The scores -
Otago v Canterbury
• Canterbury 29
Tyler Bleyendaal, Tom Taylor, Robbie Fruean tries; Bleyendaal 4 pen, con
• Otago 16
Ben Smith try; Glenn Dickson con, 3 pen
• Halftime: Otago 13-11
• Crowd: 14,067
