Otago got the examination it wanted on Saturday and it has become clear - there is plenty of homework to be done.
Tasman came to town and beat Otago 31-25 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, skipping clear to lead 21-6 at one stage before Otago staged a late fightback.
Otago played well in the final 20 minutes but in the opening hour of the contest was well below average and never fired, or was not allowed to fire, a shot in attack.
Otago coach Tony Brown acknowledged his team was off the pace in the first half but that showed the level to which the players had to aspire.
''We probably did not quite have the accuracy in our game that was required. I thought Tasman was very good in the first half. But in saying that we gave them the ball pretty easily,'' Brown said.
''They are pretty good on attack. If you can't quite stop them on attack they go pretty well. We gave away too many penalties in the first half which just kept us in our 22m line. We didn't have the discipline in the breakdown and we did not make the most of the ball that we did get.''
Brown said although he was disappointed with the loss, it showed these games before the season started were vital for the Otago cause.
''Tasman was a quality side. It is always our best pre-season game side to see where we are at. I think the boys will tell you it was pretty quick and pretty physical. It is the experience against quality players you don't get all the time and that was the difference today.''
The set piece was wobbly throughout although it was not helped by the absence of experienced hooker Sam Anderson-Heather, who left the field with a wrist injury after 10 minutes. The initial diagnosis was that the wrist was not broken.
He was replaced by University hooker Sam Sturgess, who struggled to connect with his jumpers as the Otago lineout suffered from inaccuracy.
Otago had started the scoring with two Peter Breen penalties but Tasman then had all the territory and possession for the rest of the half and impressive openside flanker Peter Samu picked up two tries.
As the gloom set in - the floodlights went on about 3pm - Tasman hooker Quintin MacDonald then burrowed over to score soon after the break.
Otago finally got some ball and territory well into the second half and Breen cut through from a 5m scrum without a hand being laid on him after 55 minutes.
A good backline move then had winger Fa'asiu Fuatai over but veteran halfback and new Tasman recruit Jimmy Cowan scored to slow the Otago comeback.
Second five-eighth Tei Walden then scored wide out with two minutes left, after some good hands by Otago.
Brown praised the work of replacement loose forward James Lentjies and captain Lee Allan, while Walden and replacement Michael Collins looked assured.
Sturgess got round the field as did prop Aki Seuili, while lock Jackson Hemopo threw himself into everything.
Otago will travel to Alexandra on Wednesday and has a match against Southland at Molyneux Park on Friday.
Otago v Tasman
The scores
Tasman 31
Peter Samu 2, Quentin MacDonald, Jimmy Cowan tries; David Havili 4 con, pen
Otago 25
Peter Breen, Fa'asiu Fuatai, Tei Walden tries; Breen 2 pen, 2 con
Halftime: 14-6 Tasman
Crowd: 300
