Rugby: Few left from 2010 match

If one wanted an indication how short, or limited, a rugby player's career is in New Zealand these days, one only has to look back to the last time Otago played Taranaki.

Through the structure of the ITM Cup and the fact Taranaki has always been in the higher premiership division and Otago in the lower championship division, the sides have not met since 2010.

No players from that starting Otago team for the 2010 game at Carisbrook, won 25-15 by the visitor, are still playing for the blue and golds today.

In the Taranaki team, there are just two players from 2010, who will turn out for Taranaki today: winger Kurt Baker and All Black Beauden Barrett.

Charlie O'Connell, who will play No 8 for Otago today, came off the bench in 2010, as did Taranaki winger Codey Rei.

Ben Smith played fullback for Otago that day and has gone on to greater things. He last playing for Otago in 2012.

Otago fielded a real mixture of players. All Blacks Adam Thomson and Smith mixed with players such as centre Josh Tatupu, winger Ryan Shortland and flanker Brad Cameron, who quickly disappeared into the night.

Nine of the Otago starting XV are still playing rugby overseas, showing if one does not make it in New Zealand, there are greener fields offshore.

The following four seasons the two sides did not meet, neither side picking each other as an opponent nor coming together in the fixed part of the draw.

Taranaki picked Otago for this season, selecting the blue and golds first up, as it had the opening choice of a home game against a championship opponent, after winning the ITM Cup premiership last year.

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