Otago set to take on 3 teams in 10 days

The Otago rugby team has a tough stretch coming up. Photo: Getty Images
The Otago rugby team has a tough stretch coming up. Photo: Getty Images
Otago is about to enter its toughest week of the year and history shows few sides bag three wins in a row.

The shortened nature of the Mitre 10 Cup - the competition lasts just 72 days from the first game to the final - means each team has to play one of its game midweek with games either side of it.

Otago will take on Auckland at Eden Park tonight and then head back to Dunedin to take on Bay of Plenty at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Wednesday night.

It then will face Tasman, again under the roof, the following Sunday.

No team last year managed to win all three games in such a short space of time, as sides lacked the endurance to go the whole way.

This year though, Waikato has managed to win three games in nine days while Tasman has just won three games in 10 days.

It was a massive turnaround for Waikato, as it had not won a game in a year before winning three games in a row.

The storm week, as it is termed, means teams spend more time travelling and recovering than actually getting out and training.

Otago coach Ben Herring said the side was likely to prepare for the match against Bay of Plenty with some recovery and review work tomorrow in Auckland and then have a get-together on Sunday to chat about a few things.

Training would be limited, as players had to recover for the game and get ready for the next game.

Having fit players at this time of the year was vital going into the congested part of the season.

Having the busy period later brings the advantage of teams having combinations more bedded down but it also means there are more chances of players being injured.

Otago has lost some players along the way but is getting some back and is not in too bad a shape heading into its busy period.

Southland and Auckland will be the last two teams to have a congested week.

The Southland side will play three games in eight days - taking on Bay of Plenty at home on Sunday, October 7 before hosting Auckland on Wednesday, October 10 and finishing against Manawatu in Palmerston North on Sunday, October 14.

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