Otago team named, match preview [Otago Daily Times)

OTAGO MUST SHOW WHAT IT HAS LEARNED
Six weeks ago, Tasman came to Dunedin and handed out a lesson to Otago.

Tomorrow, we will find out how much the men in blue and gold have learned.

In what looms as a crunch match for both sides, Tasman ventures south bruised after a disappointing loss to Northland in Blenheim last Sunday.

Otago, on the other hand, will be buoyed by racking up 50 points against North Harbour last Tuesday night.

But North Harbour was very poor and it is unlikely Tasman will offer the gifts the men from the north coughed up.

Tasman beat Otago 42-22 in a pre-season match at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 12 when the home side failed to match the pace and intensity of the visiting side.

Otago coach Tony Brown said the side had learned much from that loss and those 80 minutes were still relevant to the game which really counted.

"They are going to come down here confident after what they did pre-season. They like to throw the ball around a bit and enjoy moving the ball," Brown said.

Both sides have strong attacks and it may well be who defends better that comes out on top.

Brown's side has spent time working on its defence in the past few days, and he said the team needed to work its way into launching an attack.

"You've got to be able to hang on to the ball but, in saying that, you've got to get yourself in position to attack. You can't afford to play too much rugby in your own half so your kicking game has to be good."

Otago first five-eighth Hayden Parker had been cleared to play after he left the field last Tuesday night with a knee injury.

All Black backs Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison, who played against North Harbour, are away on national duty and, with a two-week tour coming up, are unlikely to be sighted in an Otagojersey again this season.

Adam Thomson is also unlikely to play again for Otago this year, joining Smith and Ellison on the All Black journey.

Brown said the loss of the All Blacks would hurt the side but the inclusion of Jayden Spence, for Ellison, and Tony Ensor, for Smith, would make up for it, as they had been two of the form players in the team this season.

"Sure we are losing that experience but the guys who are coming in have played well for us this year. The boys can really learn a lot just training with the All Blacks."

Otago will have had just a five-day break before taking on Tasman but Brown had no complaints, saying the side knew it was coming and could prepare for it.

Tasman sits in second place on the Championship ladder, with Otago in third one point behind, so a win for either side could go a long way to secure a spot in the post-season.

Otago will enjoy being on its home track but it has to get wise against a Tasman team which has some fine attacking talent.

The game last Tuesday was very loose and it would be hard to see Otago finishing in front again if the clash goes down that path.

Tasman's loose forwards, with Shane Christie especially prominent, create plenty of turnover ball, and captain Andrew Goodman is enjoying a great swansong for his side before heading to Leinster.

Otago will look to Parker and halfback Fumiaki Tanaka to get its game going and to stay composed when on defence.

The last two national championship games between these teams, both in Nelson, have been absolute stinkers, and one would hope at least that it is not three in row.
Otago v Tasman
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tomorrow, 4.35pm
Referee: Glen Jackson.
TAB odds: Otago $1.62, Tasman $2.20

Otago: Tony Ensor, Marshall Suckling, Jayden Spence, Glenn Dickson, Buxton Popoali'i, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Paul Grant (captain), Lee Allan, Gareth Evans, Rob Verbakel, Tom Franklin, Liam Coltman, Sam Anderson-Heather, Tama Tuirirangi. Reserves: Shota Horie, Aki Seuili, Justin Ives, TJ Ioane, Brad Weber, Peter Breen, Michael Collins.

Tasman: Tom Marshall, Peter Betham, Kieron Fonotia, Andrew Goodman (captain), Robbie Malneek, Hayden Cripps, Jeremy Su'a, Jordan Taufua, Shane Christie, Tevita Koloamatangi, Joe Wheeler, Filipo Levi, Campbell Johnstone, Quentin MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Francis Smith, Sam Prattley, Riki Hoeata, Vernon Fredericks, Gary Redmond, Steve Alfeld, Albert Nikoro.