Otago needs to fix individual errors and get its defensive game in order as the climax of the season nears.
The side was thumped 54-17 by Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday night and never looked likely against a team which played its best game of the season.
Auckland was too big and strong throughout and the Ioane brothers, Rieko and Akira, ran rampant for much of the game.
Otago made too many basic mistakes and coughed up too much ball to be in the game. It trailed 27-10 at the break and conceded a try straight after halftime, which killed off any hopes of a comeback.
The kicking in general play was ordinary and the missed tackle tally was high.
Otago coach Cory Brown said the players were disappointed in their performance.
"We just turned over too much ball and let them play their own game. They are an extremely dangerous team who are very good at breaking out from turnover ball," Brown said.
"A couple of times the bounce of the ball went against us and they were able to capitalise.
"But we’ve got to learn from this and individuals just have to be better. We let errors slip into our game and you can’t do that against a team like Auckland. They [Auckland] admitted after the game they probably played their best game of the season."
Auckland ran hard and straight when it had the ball in hand and won the game at the advantage line.
The home team scored its first try after 11 minutes when Rieko Ioane nabbed a loose ball when Otago was going backwards and sprinted 30m to score.
That was the first of his three tries and he might as well get fitted for his All Black blazer now, for the end of year tour, such is his talent.
Otago scored two tries — both at the end of the halves, with props Donald Brighouse and Jonah Aiona barging over.
The blue and golds made wholesale changes just after halftime, with four players going off, but it did not make much difference and the home team was dominant.
Brown said the side needed to move on after the loss but the performance should not be totally forgotten.
"We just have to run harder with the ball and look after the ball a lot better. Give the opposition a bit more of a contest at the breakdown."
It is becoming all too obvious the trial laws around the breakdown reward big teams who have strong ball carriers — which is turning the game into rugby league.
Best for Otago were forwards James Lentjes and Tom Franklin while the backs in general had a night to forget.
Despite the loss, Otago still remains on top of the ladder of the Championship, one point ahead of Wellington.
Wellington, which has played one fewer games than Otago, has a chance to go top when it plays Manawatu on Wednesday night.
Otago needs to win one of its two remaining fixtures to lock in a home semifinal.
North Harbour could pass it, although it has some tough games coming up.
In other games over the weekend, Hawke’s Bay beat Manawatu 30-21 and North Harbour beat Bay of Plenty 44-34.
In yesterday’s games, top-of-the-table Canterbury edged Taranaki 39-34 in New Plymouth and Northland ended its 19-game losing streak, beating Waikato 48-27 in Whangarei.
Otago v Auckland
The scores
Auckland 54
Rieko Ioane 3, Taleni Seu, Lolagi Visinia, Melani Nanai, Simon Hickey tries, Hickey 5 con, 3 pen
Otago 17
Donald Brighouse, Jonah Aiona tries; Fletcher Smith con, pen; Scott Eade con
Halftime: 27-10