After a disappointing ITM Cup campaign which finished with Otago second from bottom in the championship competition, ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire hands out his unofficial awards for the season.
Newcomer of the year: James Lentjes
Really was outstanding and just got better as the season went on. There were a few to put their hands up for this award, but it was hard to go past Lentjes, who did not have a bad game and even against Hawkes Bay had a stand-out performance. Was a terrier tackling on defence and was strong over the ball at the breakdown in a typical openside flanker fashion. Also ranged well and at times looked good with ball in hand. For an ITM Cup rookie, he had an exceptional season and exceeded all expectations.
Best team performance: 38-7 win over Waikato
After a horror week that included back-to-back thrashings, Otago showed just what they were capable of in their only good performance of the second half of the season. The backs looked lively and the forwards were making an impact and supporting in numbers. Defensively they held out Waikato well and showed the guts and determination that was needed in every game.
Worst team performance: 41-0 loss to Hawkes Bay
No need to go into great depth here, everyone remembers this game. A failed Shield challenge in which Otago missed tackle after tackle and Hawkes Bay ran rampant to have the game sewn up in the first ten minutes.
Best try: Fa'asiu Fuatai vs North Harbour
It is a shame that the first try of the season was the best, as it all looked so promising at that stage. But it really was a beautifully crafted planned move, in which Hayden Parker and Michael Collins combined to put Fuatai into a gap close in to the lineout. There was not much North Harbour could do and Fuatai waltzed over to score. Unfortunately these set-moves went missing after the first month.
Most improved player: Jackson Hemopo
This was the hardest award to give out, primarily due to the inconsistencies exhibited by most players. Michael Collins was the frontrunner for a while, but had a poor finish to the year. Charlie O'Connell was much the same, as was Fa'asiu Fuatai. Both Jackson Hemopo and Joe Latta finished the season with greatly enhanced reputations and therefore were to two logical candidates. Latta started the season well and carried on in a consistent manner, but Hemopo really came on as the season progressed. He was missed last year and had shown promise in a couple of late-season performances the year before. But it was not until midway through this season did he confirm himself as a mainstay in the Otago team. A strong runner, with good ball skills, physical in contact and a reasonable lineout jumper, he has plenty going for him and will only get better.
Players whose Super Rugby stocks have increased
Joe Latta
There are some good locks coming through in New Zealand rugby and Joe Latta looks to have added his name to the list. A physical, hard worker, there was plenty to like about Latta's game this season. He tackled well, threw himself into the breakdowns and usually made several ball carriers during a game. In the set-piece he looked solid too, particularly in the lineout where he was used effectively towards the front and in the middle. There were many games where he was the equal of the outstanding Tom Franklin, which says a lot in itself.
Jackson Hemopo
Another lock, Hemopo, brings a slightly different skill set to Latta, although is still a physical, hard worker. He is a bit looser, probably more inclined to make the odd run a bit wider out and add some go-forward. At set-piece he is solid though and he will throw himself into tackles. Often he was used as the impact lock and he did a great job bringing energy and making a dynamic run where needed.
Aki Seiuli
Aki Seiuli had a top season to follow up his strong finish to 2013. There is no busier prop in New Zealand rugby, bringing with him the ability to play an open game like a loose forward, or to tighten up where necessary. He has good pace for a prop and pops up all over the place to make rampaging runs, providing momentum in a similar vein to what TJ Ioane does. Defensively he is busy too, having made the most tackles out of any non-looseforward in the competition. The only real question mark remaining over his game is his scrummaging. It can be hard to put scrum issues down to one man though and he may find he would be fine slotting into another forward pack. Certainly it will be hard to overlook him for much longer.
James Lentjes
There are plenty of good openside flankers around, but it is hard to ignore what Lentjes has done this year. After an impressive club season, he was one of the standouts for Otago, impressing even when the team was struggling. Defensively he was arguably the team's best, making tackles and being strong over the ball at the breakdown. He was never outplayed this year and for sure looks like a player capable of taking his game to the next level.
Best back: Hayden Parker
Parker was one of three candidates for Most Valuable Player and was by far and away the best back. He is developing into a player who looks capable of directing play, possessing a handy kicking and passing game, but increasingly knowing when and how to use them. Kicking at goal he is still one of the best going around and he is brave on defence too. When he decided to run he looked dangerous and was the only back who really looked like creating anything on a consistent basis.
Most valuable player: Aki Seiuli
At times it felt as though Seiuli was a one-man-band as far as gaining momentum went. His ability to carry the ball and go forward really was phenomenal and he just never stopped. There were few others who provided this sort of dynamic ball carrying, with TJ Ioane the only other to really excel at it. But Seiuli was more than just the impact player Ioane was, doing it on a consistent basis and being amongst the most prominent defensively too.
When averaging out all of the player ratings for this season, Seiuli finished with the highest rating, of 6.9. He scored a 7 or higher six times and was one of only two players to score more than one 8, the other being Lee Allan. Only once did he dip beneath six, which is supposed to signify a "solid" performance, showing his consistency. Ratings aside though, he made a huge impact for Otago and played nearly every minute of every game. He really is deserving of a Super Rugby contract. Mentions also for Hayden Parker and Tom Franklin, who both had top seasons and reminded everyone why they were key parts of a successful Highlanders team earlier in the year.
