Otago up against resurgent Tasman [ODT]
Six years ago, Tasman was on the road to oblivion.
New Zealand Rugby gave the union $340,000 to pay its players until the end of the 2008 season, after which Tasman and Northland were set to be dumped from the top division of the national championship.
The Makos were bankrupt, Nelson Bays and Marlborough were headed for the divorce courts, and coach Todd Blackadder was off to join the Crusaders.
Tasman was up the creek, the paddles were gone, the rapids were coming and there were no lifejackets.
But in six short years, there has been a massive turnaround.
Things up in Makos country are positively purring. The books are balanced, the unions have made peace, and the rugby on display comes from the top drawer.
Tasman sits well ensconced in the top four of the ITM Cup Premiership, it has plenty of Super rugby players in its squad, and the crowds are flocking to see the side perform.
It is here that Otago ventures tomorrow to seek a win.
The Tasman turnaround came through some hard work, good players coming through and performing, and a slice of what every union and team needs: luck.
Tasman, helped by the national union - and a reversal of the decision to dump the Makos from the top division - got its books under control after some wayward decisions in its initial years.
It had paid top dollar to the likes of Greg Feek and Chris Jack, who had no devotion to the Tasman cause.
Burned by that, Tasman looked inward, looking only at players from the big cities if it had major holes.
Kieran Keane took up the coaching reins, and unearthed players such as Marty Banks and Liam Squire.
Through a missed conversion in the final last year by Hawkes Bay's Ihaia West, Tasman made the Premiership for 2014.
It has taken to the top table like duck to water. It has just one loss this year, against Taranaki in a rather arrogant last couple of minutes.
But it has learned from that and over the past couple of games has been much too good for Southland and Wellington.
Tasman has named a full-strength team to take on Otago, and will be hard to bowl.
Otago, to have any hope of getting a home semifinal, needs to win this game.
It has some walking wounded after the big win over Waikato but should have gained some confidence from that victory.
It is going to be tough. Tasman appears to be on a roll. From the depths of the Harwood Hole, Tasman appears to be heading to the top of the ITM Cup tree.
Tasman v Otago
Nelson, tomorrow, 2.35pm
Otago: Tony Ensor, Marshall Suckling, Michael Collins, Jayden Spence, Fa'asiu Fuatai, Hayden Parker, Nick Ealey, Charlie O'Connell (captain), Hugh Blake, Naulia Dawai, Tom Franklin, Joe Latta, Donald Brighouse, Liam Coltman, Aki Seiuli. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Michael Mata'afa, Jackson Hemopo, Josh Dickson, Josh Renton, Peter Breen, Kieran Moffat
Tasman: Robbie Malneek, Bryce Heem, Kieron Fonotia, David Havili, James Lowe, Marty Banks, Jimmy Cowan, Lima Squire, Shane Christie (captain), Pete Samu, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Quentin MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Jesse MacDonald, Ross Geldenhuys, Tevita Cavubati, Tevita Koloamatangi, Bully Guyton, Mike Wells, Mitchell Scott.
Referee: Kane McBride (Canterbury).
