Seek and destroy.
Otago lined up its southern neighbour at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night and simply smashed it.
Notching its highest score in more than a decade, Otago ran rampant against a Southland team that had no answer to a lethal Otago attack, as the home side ran out a 61-7 winner, after leading 39-7 at the break.
First five-eighth Peter Breen, who helped himself to 26 points, scoring all four ways, said there was signs it was going to be a special night even before the kick-off.
''There was definitely a good feeling in the changing room beforehand. The boys were really pumped,'' he said.
''We were getting really fast ball. We have really cleaned up our ruck area. We had been getting too slow a ball. Under the roof we wanted to play a fast game.
''Everything felt really good. You've got time, you can see things and that is what it felt like. The kicks were going over and that helps.''
Breen said Otago was looking sharp on attack and was urgent in everything it did.
''That would be the best game I have been involved with in attack. Everything was going to hand. Matt Faddes was outstanding, Jack Wilson. Everyone had complete confidence in backing themselves.
''That came from momentum. Any team you play, you have just got to have momentum. Tonight we just had it.''
Skipper Liam Coltman made a welcome return and was elated with the side's performance.
''It was fantastic. The boys just stuck to the plan and put the points on the board,'' Coltman said.
''It was just a good feeling. We've had a hard start, one win out of five games, but things are starting to click now. The boys are on a bit of a roll.
''Just basics done well. This is always a big derby match. I said to them to show a bit of ticker, play at the right end of the field and it will come.''
Otago started well and scored the first of its eight tries after just three minutes when fullback Michael Collins went over after more than a dozen phases.
Southland replied with a try shortly afterwards when Otago dropped the kick-off.
Coltman then scored a great try when he ran 15m from the front of the lineout, carrying three tacklers to the line.
Then Southland prop and captain Jamie Mackintosh was sent from the field when he threw an elbow at Otago prop Hisa Sasagi.
The visitors noticeably dropped and from then it was one-way traffic.
The dismissal undoubtedly handed the advantage to Otago but it had to be good enough to take it.
Returning flanker James Lentjes scored a try off a lineout, and in the final five minutes of the half Tei Walden scored after nice runs by Wilson and loose forward Naulia Dawai.
Breen got a five-pointer right before the hooter.
Otago scored three more tries in the second half and was a metre quicker than the opposition.
It would be hard to single any one player out, such was the performance.
But outside backs Collins, Faddes and Wilson ran hard and Breen showed some sweet touches. Halfback Josh Renton passed well.
Up front, the pack worked well together and Coltman, prop Craig Millar and lock Tom Franklin made some big gains.
Otago beat North Harbour 34-18 in an under-19 fixture in Taupo yesterday afternoon.
Otago led 31-8 at halftime and had the perfect start when centre Jed Thomas stepped his way through traffic to score under the posts with just 55sec on the clock.
Harbour rallied during the second spell but was not able to get within reach.
Otago v Southland
The scores
Otago 61
Michael Collins, Liam Coltman, James Lentjes, Tei Walden, Peter Breen, Josh Renton, Jayden Spence, Matt Faddes tries; Breen 6 con, 2 pen, d-goal
Southland 7
Willis Halaholo try, Lima Sopoaga con
Halftime: 39-7.
Crowd: 6500
