The side, coming off a dead last placing last season, had a resounding 46-29 win over North Harbour at Carisbrook last night, playing with accuracy, hunger and just a real will to win.
Up 24-5 at halftime, the side scored six tries to four, and won the match through its ability to score when it mattered and standing tall in defence.
There were few of those silly basic errors which plagued the team in 2010, and it played sensible percentage rugby when it had to and pressured the visiting side into sloppy mistakes.
Leading the way was first five-eighth Tony Brown, who guided the ship with aplomb and made the right calls at the right time.
Otago co-coach Andy Hunter was understandedly a happy man after the game, but said it was far from a perfect performance.
"We've got to be happy with the scoreline being the first game out. There is lots to work on still from the game. But that is the perfect scenario for the first game - a win but lots to work on still," Hunter said.
"We didn't play with a lot of ball in the first half. I think we were well down in that stat but we took our opportunities well, The set piece was very solid again although discipline was a bit of an issue.
"The boys knew they were still playing within themselves at the halftime break and to come out to do things well was good. Leaking tries near the end was disappointing."
He praised the kicking game of both Brown and halfback Sean Romans, and said it was a night to keep the ball in front of the forwards.
Others to stand out for Otago were No 8 Gareth Evans, captain Eben Joubert, and prop Kees Meeuws, while lock Tom Donnelly warmed to his task in the chilly conditions.
After being well behind at the break, Harbour had a sniff, 12 points behind with 13 minutes left, but dropped the ball once again and Otago replacement forward TJ Ioane scored from the resulting scrum.
Replacement lock Rob Verbakel completed the win with a try in the final play of the game.
Harbour coach Liam Barry said his side made too many errors.
"Our set piece wasn't great and we made too many individual errors. Otago played well.
"They kept putting it in behind us, and we didn't win the contestables. Ball in the air, ball on ground, we didn't win them," Barry said.
"When we held the ball and got some phases we looked fine. But early on we just coughed the ball up. Four times we got the ball within 5m of the line but only came away with one try."
Otago took the match by the scruff of the neck midway through the first half with three tries in 10 minutes.
Otago winger Joe Hill expertly picked up a loose ball and scampered 50m to score.
Then, just over five minutes later, Otago was in again. The ball went out to the midfield and Sam Giddens got halfway through a tackle and moved the ball on to his captain and Joubert was over.
Then within two minutes Joubert scored again. Picking the ball up from a ruck, he barged over after a nice back move.
Otago v North Harbour
The scores
Otago ... 46
Eben Joubert 2, Joe Hill, Rob Verbakel, Ben Atiga, TJ Ioane tries, Glenn Dickson 5 con, pen, Tony Brown d-goal,
North Harbour ... 29
James King, Codey Rei, Mat Luamanu, Rudi Wulf tries, Ben Botica 3 con, pen
Halftime: 24-5
Crowd: 2000
