Rugby: Challenge for shield second up

Otago will get a dry run against Southland only weeks before it takes on the same side in a Ranfurly Shield challenge in August.

The draw for the ITM Cup - the rechristened national provincial championship - was released yesterday, with Otago to play six games at home and seven away, in a season which has plenty riding on it.

The competition will be split in half in 2011 with a premiership and a second-tier championship, so it is imperative teams finish in the top half this year.

The competition begins in the final week of July and runs until Labour Weekend.

Otago, which slumped to 10th in both 2008 and 2009, starts the season with a match against Counties-Manukau in Pukekohe.

New coach Phil Mooney said the Shield challenge meant being prepared at the start of the season was even more important.

"Playing against Southland in a derby game is always going to be a big game.

"But you factor in that the match will be a Ranfurly Shield challenge, then it makes it pretty special," Mooney said.

"One thing that the draw shows you is that there are no easy games.

"The important thing is that you start your season well.

"You can build momentum if you get away to a good start."

Mooney noted Otago was at home only once in the first month.

From then on it was at Carisbrook on and off and only had two home games in a row once.

"We're not at home too much in a row, so that makes it a difficult competition.

"But what you have to do is front up every week and perform consistently."

In a 14-team competition, half the sides will have one more home game than the other, and Otago played seven home games last year.

The day of the Otago Shield challenge is the same day the All Blacks play the Wallabies in Christchurch, so both sides will have key players missing.

Mooney confirmed Otago would play Southland and Tasman in friendly matches before the season started.

They were traditional pre-season encounters and would be useful warm-ups for the side.

All Blacks will play sporadically in the competition, and are likely to be available for less than half of the competition.

Mooney said he and assistant coach David Latta had assembled a train-on squad which was already having three sessions a week.

"Obviously, at this time of year, we are looking at building a conditioning base and getting the fitness base right.

The group includes contracted players not tied in with the Highlanders and other club players on the fringe of the Otago squad.

The draw for the ITM Cup has been tweaked from the past couple of years and only one game will played on Friday night.

A game will be played late on Sunday afternoon, kicking off at 4.35pm.

This time was introduced in 2006 when the competition expanded. but was dropped a couple of seasons later as it was unpopular with fans and players.

Otago plays just one game with the late Sunday afternoon kick-off, against Hawke's Bay, at CarisbrookIt also has the bonus of playing last year's finalists, Canterbury and Wellington, at Carisbrook.

The final will be played on a Friday night, November 5, to avoid a clash with a rugby league test between the Kiwis and Kangaroos the following night.

ITM has come on board as sponsor for three years, after Air New Zealand shifted its support to the All Blacks.

The Air New Zealand Cup started in 2006.

2010
Otago draw

v Counties-Manukau, Pukekohe, Saturday, July 31, 4.30pm
v Southland (Ranfurly Shield), Invercargill, Saturday, August 7, 4.35pm
v Wellington, Carisbrook, Saturday, August 14, 7.35pm
v North Harbour, North Harbour, Thursday, August 19, 7.35pm
v Taranaki, Carisbrook, Thursday, August 26, 7.35pm
v Hawke's Bay, Carisbrook, Sunday September 5, 4.35pm
v Tasman, Nelson, Sunday September 12, 2.35pm
v Northland, Carisbrook, Sunday September 19, 2.35pm
v Bay of Plenty, TBC, Friday, September 24, 7.35pm
v Canterbury, Carisbrook, Saturday, October 2, 5.30pm
v Waikato, Hamilton, Friday, October 8, 7.35pm
v Auckland, Auckland, Sunday, October 17, 2.35pm
v Manawatu, Carisbrook, Saturday, October 23, 5.30pm