After Otago's marvellous show-piece of attacking rugby last Tuesday night against North Harbour, fans showed up hoping to witness more of the same in their team's clash against Tasman on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The locals were not disappointed, as right from the opening whistle the previous week's excitement continued. It became obvious that one team was there to play fast and attractive rugby.
In the first 30 minutes of this encounter, that team was Tasman.
The visitor's captain, Andrew Goodman, added Tasman's first try within a minute of kick-off and the team proceeded to dominate the possession and territory.
Although Otago spent most of the first half defending their line from a rampaging Tasman side, the holes in their defence were minimal, leaking only one further try to Hayden Cripps and a penalty.
After half an hour of hitting an impenetrable blue and gold defensive wall Tasman's attack began to lose momentum. They were exhausted.
This change of pace did not go unnoticed by Otago, and the team's forward pack took control, managing to maintain their own ball and steal some valuable turnovers.
With the breakdown area well secured, the backline decided to give the visitors a taste of their own medicine and play fast and exciting rugby.
Buxton Popali'I demonstrating this perfectly. He threw in to himself and split the Tasman defence, sending them reeling backwards and unable to stop a Jayden Spence try in the corner five minutes before half-time.
Although Tasman maintained a 13-10 advantage as they entered the changing sheds the momentum had shifted, and Otago looked eager to continue.
In the second half, it took 25 seconds for Otago to take the only advantage Tasman had left; the score line.
Fumaki Tanaka provided great vision after taking a quick penalty before Marshall Suckling found the white chalk and sent Otago into the lead.
The game continued to be played at extreme pace and Tasman's defence and fitness were not up to the challenge. Otago's forwards and backs combined to extend the score line until it was out of Tasman's reach.
The pace proving to be too much for even referee Glen Jackson - he was replaced after 60 minutes.
With five minutes left on the clock, Tasman's backline came back to life and looked certain to create a try from within their own half until Hayden Ensor capped off a superb performance at fullback with an intercept try.
Peter Breen added the final nail to the coffin, adding another try after 80 minutes to secure a 39-13 victory for the blue and gold's.
This win was vital for a young Otago side, proving it has the stamina to play two games of exciting rugby within a week and maintain a resolute defence which is stopping teams in their tracks.
Something to ponder: Before enclosed stadiums, Otago rugby found its home at Carisbrook, a stadium which was nicknamed ‘the House of Pain'. The name was justified; visiting teams seldom left the field without feeling as though they were hit by a train.
The blue and gold's ruled over Carisbrook with an iron fist, and held a home advantage which left its mark on any team unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end.
The home advantage may now reside in a different part of Dunedin, but based on events of the past year, Forsyth Barr Stadium looks set to become another fortress for anyone dressed in blue and gold - or even black!