Otago 2023
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I'd make a couple of changes. Just based on gut feel. I reckon Hurley to the back, depending on how he goes tomorrow. Faleafaga into the 22 jersey. This is based more on hope than any reasoning, but I want to see Hastie as the no1 halfback. Loosehead prop I reckon could be anyone.
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Going for a massive bolter for round 1.
Josh Whaanga to start on the right wing.
Should have seven debutants next Friday, Lopas, Wingham, Sanders, Hastie, Faleafaga, Hurley and Whaanga.
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@frugby said in Otago 2023:
And for Round One:
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Wingham
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Bell
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Ainsley
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Holland
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Dickson
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Sanders
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Withy
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Lio-Willie (Fischli)
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Arscott
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Millar
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Nareki
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Gilbert
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Umaga-Jensen
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Naholo
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Faleafaga
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Jackson
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Lopas
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Ma'u
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Tucker
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Fischli (Stodart)
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Hastie
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Te Hiwi
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Hurley
I think I'd be fairly happy to stick with this, though Gilbert and Faleafaga might be the other way around. I actually thought Ajay had quite a poor game, but to me, it seemed plan A was those two plus Millar. Nareki will take left wing, Arscott halfback, and TUJ centre. It is just who they go with on the right wing... hard to judge Naholo because he played in the shite team, but perhaps that was intentional, as they've been impressed by Whaanga prior to that game? If that was the case, he will start round one, but I'm expecting it will be Naholo, with Te Hiwi and Hurley on the bench. Don't forget, it was largely a Southland B side on in the second half.
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Hurley looked to have played about 50+ minutes at the back. It appeared as if Hastie had a brief stint at the back just to get him on. If AJ or Gilbert were going to be the fullbacks they would have spent some time there yesterday. I can't find any records of AJ playing at fullback in his senior career. While Gilbert hasn't played there since 3/4s through Super Rugby. If TUJ isn't available the Te Hiwi takes his spot. What we have at the moment is an exciting time with several players on upwards trajectories. Whick should hopefully help us finish ahead of those schmucks Wellington.
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@SouthernMann you lot have no chance of beating Wellington, not on our level.
It’s weird you have this much hate towards a province. Something makes me think you’re jealous.
Enjoy battling it out at the lower end of the table yah battler.
I apologise to all other Otago fans for the brag but up the Lions.
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Nah not jealous. Just over Wellington fans who think their side is amazing. Also you lot are very easy to wind up. Our best player isn't from Wellington either. Awfully presumptive of you to declare we are 'not at your level.' season hasn't even started. We have played one pre-season game.
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Our top five players are probably Lio Willie, Nareki, Gilbert, Ainsley and Holland. With Withy, Dickson not far behind. Excuse my ignorance, but which one of that group are from Wellington?
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@SouthernMann you’re literally the most immature person on the Fern. Mentioning Wellington in almost every post just because you’re jelous that we had success last year. I’d love for you to point out those supporters who weren’t humble when winning last year…
TUJ is easily a top 5 player looking at your roster, you do realise he’s from Wellington aye?
Hey, if Otago end up competing for the title this year, good on them. Personally I think they’ll battle and I’m sure I will be proven right in due course.
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I'm very well aware of where TUJ is from. It is about 10 minutes drive from where I'm sitting in my lounge. He is not in the top five players in the squad though. Four other players toured with the NZ XV. Couldn't care about your success. My distain for Wellington goes back to the Hurricanes and their 'rock star' backline in the late 90s and early 00s. Growing up, seeing a team constantly being talked up. While generally failing miserably. Well buddy, good luck with your Wellington side, on a different level. I'll just enjoy watching my shithouse side. I'll slow down on the Wellington baiting. I can see there are some sensitivities.
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@SouthernMann jeez someone holds a grudge. If you’re not a fan of Wellington why the fuck do you care so much? Us Wellington fans are the ones that have been heartbroken time and time again. Boohoo if we decide to celebrate after finally getting over the line.
You’re just highlighting your maturity. It’s all good to fire banter back and forwards in good fun but the fact you just straight out disrespect Wellington in most of your posts and don’t expect a response is pretty laughable. I wouldn’t call it being sensitive, I just think it’s so cringe that you go out of your way to wind people up the way you do.
And yes, on form it’s pretty obvious that TUJ is one of your most potent players alongside Nareki.
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On form TUJ is one of our most potent players? At his best may be. He finished the Super season on the bench. Lio-Willie won the Super championship. Nareki, Gilbert, Ainsley, Dickson/Holland and Withy are likely to be more influential in their positions. The post that wound you up today, the triggering content was one sentence. The rest was all about the side I think will line up in round 1. I said statements like it is up to the player (Roigard) if he wants to leave the Canes. That the Chiefs are likely to be in a better position to win championships. That if he was to leave it would be the same as Lomax leaving the Landers to go to the Hurricanes. In the future I will only make factual statements about Wellington and the Canes. Which I think those all were. You're the only team I really care about beating. Just like others enjoy beating Canterbury, Auckland or other sides. I wish your side all the best. I support the Wellington cricket side as a second team in summer. Great Otago influence in there too! So nothing about any anger about the region I've found myself living in. Although the weather is shit.
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@SouthernMann I’m getting confused, you keep referring to the Landers, then the Canes, then Wellington, then Otago. For me TUJ has been one of Otago’s best when not injured. I’m certainly happy when Wellington are playing Otago and he’s not listed in the match day squad. Yeah you’re probably right, his fitness didn’t look up to scratch for the Landers this year but if he can get on top of things he can be devastating. And for your sake and the hopes of Otago doing well this year, I hope he can reach peak performance again.
Fair call, I’ve got similar grudges against Canterbury because of all the shit I’ve copped from family members over the years so any time we beat them it’s definitely satisfying. You have every right to have opinions on that sort of stuff, it’s the little digs towards Wellington that you seem to include in your posts on a regular basis and out of nowhere that are simply annoying.
Anyway, all the best to Otago in this year’s NPC. Let’s hope both teams can do all this talking on the field.
Plus, you can’t beat Welly on a good day. 😏
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Photos from the Otago V Southland pre-season clash. One I find interesting is the two Whaanga boys standing side by side. Matt in the Southland jersey is 188cm tall. Josh looks a couple of inches taller. Which probably has him just a bit taller than Leicester Fainga'anuku. Big tall kid who will start on the wing. Then move in to centre while he fills out. Just hope he has the pace. https://www.facebook.com/100063863314076/posts/725822189556552/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6
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i was a but gutted, i was back in NZ last week visiting family in queenstown, when i saw they were doing a pre season game against southland i had a brief moment of hope it was going to be in queenstown
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anyone have the breakdown of who score din the game?
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Full replay available https://fb.watch/m71vxbguBA/?mibextid=RUbZ1f
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@SouthernMann yeah, did see that but havent had the time to sit down and watch it all
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So then, our season starts today, and what are we realistically hoping/aiming for?
I think missing the quarters if a failure, and should result in Donnelly being moved on all things considered. Even with Millar, Faleafaga and Timu out injured, we still run out a decent backline, and that is something that hasn't been true in past seasons.
I expect us to be walloped today, but I'd like to see us win sort of 4/5 at Foobar, and another couple to make it six wins and a comfortable QF spot.
