It will be North Otago’s sixth Lochore Cup semifinal since the inception of the Meads Cup-Lochore Cup system in 2006. It has also played in seven Meads Cup semifinals. Wairarapa-Bush needs to take a step up from a flat performance last week.
Joe Harwood, now in his second season as coach, is looking forward to his side’s second crack against North Otago in seven days.
"The North Otago pack played pretty well and we just couldn’t get enough front-foot ball. We need to work a bit harder but we were dominated right across the park by North Otago," he said.
"There’ll be a couple of changes in the forwards, a lock and a flanker, otherwise we’ll be unchanged from the first game against North Otago."
North Otago led only 7-0 after the first half last week and this gave Harwood hope.
"There’s not a hell of a lot in it so we feel we’re pretty close to North Otago but unless we get that vital front-foot ball, we’ll be likely to struggle again. But there’s no point in panicking.
"It’s just a matter of doing the basics a bit better.
"Last week our handling was poor when we were put under a great deal of pressure by North Otago to be fair."
North Otago head coach Nigel Walsh is relishing the semifinal.
"Sure we were rapt after last week’s win but we know we’ve got some unfinished work to do this afternoon," he said.
North Otago has made changes to last week’s side. In the front row, tighthead prop Meli Kolinisau, who made such an impact when he came on before halftime last weekend, will start with Kelepi Funaki.
Absent for this crucial game will be No8 Mika Mafi who will be replaced by New Zealand Heartland under-19 team captain Kafaongo Katoa. There will be two new faces on the bench with Valley captain Cameron Rowland and Excelsior prop Thomas Shields named in the squad.
In the other Lochore Cup semifinal, Horowhenua-Kapiti meets Mid Canterbury in Levin.In the Meads Cup semifinals, top qualifier Wanganui takes on Thames Valley and South Canterbury plays King Country in Timaru.
- Terry O'Neill
North Otago v Wairarapa-Bush
Masterton, today, 1pm
North Otago: Josh Buchan, Simon Lillicama, Francis Kelly, Taina Tamou, Matthew Vocea, Paul Tupai, Inoke Naufahu, Kafa Kafaongo, Matthew Duff, Junior Fakatoufifita, Filipo Veamatahau, Joshua Clark, Melikisua Kolinisau, Sam Sturgess, Ralph Darling. Reserves: Jake Greenslade, Thomas Shields, Kelepi Funaki, Cameron Rowland, Glen Sturgess, Tyler Burgess, Hemaua Samisoni.
Wairarapa-Bush: Inia Katia, Finn Yeats, Robbie Anderson, Michael Lealeva’a, Soli Malatai, Glen Walters, Daryl Pickering, Kirk Tufuga, Ryan Knell, Tavita Isaac, Andrew Smith, James Goodger, Max Tufuga, Elijah-James Pakoti, Sam Gammie. Reserves: Nicholas Hohepa, Jeremaih Mapusua, Lachlan McFadzean, Epeli Rayaqayaqa, Tipene Haira, Cameron Hayton, Tristan Flutey.