ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire rates the Otago players after their loss to Northland last night.
Trent Renata 6/10: Placed a couple of nice attacking kicks in behind early which led to Otago's first 10 points. Was pretty solid, carving off good distance with the boot, although did not really threaten on attack.
Matt Faddes 5/10: Did not get too many chances, but made one good run where he beat five defenders and took the high ball that came his way.
Jayden Spence 6/10: Hardly threatened on attack, but was very good defensively, making some good tackles and coming up with an important turnover under pressure on Otago's own line.
Tei Walden 5/10: Similar to Spence, did not really offer much on attack despite being tidy. Tackled well though and went looking for some to make to get involved in the first half.
Fa'asiu Fuatai 4.5/10: Tried hard with the chances he got but could not spark anything. Dropped a ball that should have been caught in space in the second half.
Hayden Parker 6.5/10: Had a few average moments and was not his best performance, but still made his kicks at goal and scored a brilliant individual try which came through effort chasing, skill in kicking the ball and a bit of luck.
Josh Renton 6/10: Cleared the ball better this week, not taking the extra step quite so often. Had a shaky start, getting pushed off on cover defence after going into the tackle too high in the sequence in which Northland scored the first try.
Charlie O'Connell 6.5/10: Worked hard all night, but this was perhaps a game where his inability to physically impose himself really was a problem.
Hugh Blake 5/10: Made his tackles and was solid in his first game back from injury, but was not overly prominent and gave away a breakdown penalty that should not have been conceded.
Lee Allan 7/10: Fast around the field, made tackles and sprinted everywhere. Was the best of the Otago forwards at the breakdown, where he got a turnover and made Northland win their ball back on other occasions.
Tom Franklin 6/10: Another who was pretty solid around the park, but was out-jumped at the back of the lineout, especially in the second half where the Northland jumpers were just getting up in front of him. Ran a good line at a gap to score his try.
Jackson Hemopo 6.5/10: Got the lineout steal which led to the first penalty goal and the take which led to the first try. Went looking for the ball on attack and had some good carries.
Mike Mata'afa 5/10: Did okay considering he was on debut and covering for two others. However, the scrum was an issue on his side and he fell off a couple of tackles, including a basic one close in which led directly to a try.
Liam Coltman 7.5/10: Probably Otago's best player, providing the only real physicality in the forwards and getting through a ton of work, making tackles and never being far from the ball-carrier to clean out at the ruck.
Aki Seiuli 7/10: Tackled well and went looking for the ball to run. Fast around the field and showed his versatility when he switched sides in the scrum.
Sam Anderson-Heather 4.5/10: Was okay, but fell off a crucial tackle at an important time in the game which led to a break that led to a try. Lineouts were not flash, although this had as much to do with the jumpers as it did his throwing.
George Bower 4.5/10: Came on at a tough time when Northland had all of the momentum. Won a scrum penalty early, but then struggled from that point on. Got involved close in around the field.
Josh Dickson 7.5/10: Looked really keen and made half a dozen tackles in his 10 minutes on the park. Put in a good hit for his first play and was in the thick of things for the rest of his time.
Naulia Dawai 4.5/10: Got involved, but was a player that really needed to make an impact in a TJ Ioane-like way, and did not.
Nick Ealey 5/10: Passed the ball alright but memorably had one awful kick off the side of his boot.
Peter Breen 5/10: Tidy in his play, made few mistakes and kicked well, although did not really add any spark.
Tony Ensor 6/10: Came on and tried to make something happen, although was shut down pretty well.
