He needed the pause the breath provided to gather his thoughts. With 10 changes, there was quite a list to get through.
Five of the changes are to the starting XV which lost 39-8 to Counties-Manukau in Dunedin on Saturday.
The rest are on the bench with, notably, Kilisitina Moata’ane included in the game-day squad for the first time this season.
Moata’ane, who has signed professionally with New Zealand Rugby, injured her ankle during the preseason and is expected to make her playing return from the bench in today’s match against Taranaki.
It is one of the few good news stories Manson was able to share. His options took a hit this week with most of the changes forced upon him.
Both starting wingers and props were unavailable and lock Julia Gorinkski is sidelined with a hip complaint.
"Hopefully with a good week’s rest it should come right," Manson said.
Flanker Georgia Mason, who missed the game against Counties-Manukau, is still waiting for a scan. But it is believed she has suffered ligament damage in her knee and will miss the remainder of the season.
Back-up winger Cass Englar picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury playing for the Black Ferns development sevens team in Japan earlier this month and is also sidelined for the season.
Moata’ane will be joined on the bench by three new faces — Erin Adams, Jess Dermody and Janelle Romanchuck. The trio will be making their debut from the bench.
"If we had 10 changes a few weeks ago we would have been panicking. But I back these girls to give it a real good nudge."
Moata’ane will be injected into the game for the final quarter of the match.
"We expect her to come on and make a bit of an impact. But we also have to remember she has not played in six weeks.
"Hopefully, she does the little things well and in the next few weeks that is when we will be looking to see a bigger impact from her."
Manson said his team had been working on ball security following the loss to Counties-Manukau. The Spirit showed plenty of enterprise but was unable to finish off some promising moves.
It needed to be more patient and hold on to the ball at crucial times.
Taranaki does not present the same threat as Counties, which boasted an enormous pack and plays in the top tier.
The home side is winless in its comeback season. In four games it has conceded 252 points while scoring just 22.
"Taranaki look like they’ve got a handful of pretty decent players and look like they can chuck the ball around a wee bit.
"For us it is just about being more ruthless and a bit more accurate in our attack."
Farah Palmer Cup
New Plymouth, today, 2.35pm
Otago: Sheree Hume, Cheyenne Cunningham, Georgina McCullough, Greer Muir, Amy Du Plessis, Rosie Kelly, Rosie Buchanan-Brown, Tegan Hollows (captain), Zoe Whatarua, Morgan Henderson, Jess Kendall, Kate Smith, Eilis Doyle, Rebecca Todd, Paige Church. Reserves: Morgan Walker, Erin Adams, Jess Dermody, Janelle Romanchuck, Sammy Wong, Kilisitina Moata’ane, Sam Hollows.
Taranaki: Jessie Aitken-Fowell, Tina Moeahu, Atonio Utumalama, Kate Parkinson, Elle Johns, Badinlee Munro-Smith, Casio Austin, Natale Haupapa, Jalana Smith, Awhina Blackburn-Kingi, Victoria McCullough, Sharee Brown, Leah Barnard, Marika Allen, Maree Dallinger. Reserves: Natalie Jones, Lisa Appert, Nga Pera Hei Hei, Freedom Edmonds, Patsy Matheson, Briana Poingdestre, Karen Pullen.