Huge improvement
Otago definitely played tougher teams earlier in the season, but their jump in form was not totally down to the quality of the opposition. After scraping past Taranaki and showing glimpses of form in the other three of their first four games, Otago began to play with confidence and showed vast improvements. It started with a strong second half against Auckland, then carried on through to the semifinal, where they were tripped up by a Wellington team who were just too good.
Throughout that period they employed tactics which far better suited them, as well as making a couple of key personnel changes. As the team began clicking, the confidence rose and many players had their best periods of form. They were impressive in coming from behind to beat Wellington, while nearly edging Auckland too. Certainly that has to be encouraging for next year.
Tactical shift
There was a clear change of tactics after the first four games which helped Otago become far more dangerous on attack. Early in the season they looked to play an open game, often going wide straight from set-piece and trying to make something happen. They were relying on their players to beat the defenders one-on-one without having put them on the back foot or manipulating them at all.
Once they figured out they were good at playing a tighter game, they became more of a threat across the park. They began setting targets and attacking in closer, which meant the support was close by and the players were under less pressure. That was drawing the defence in and the quality of their cleanout was getting them faster ball, giving the defence less time to reset, meaning more gaps. After doing this for a while, space opened up out wider, which they exploited well.
Lineout
The threat Otago posed from the lineout was one of its strengths this year, despite being under pressure in that area in the semifinal. In Tom Franklin and Josh Dickson they had two genuinely outstanding jumpers in the middle and at the back, while Liam Coltman's throwing was much improved. Alongside those two there were the likes of Jackson Hemopo, Adam Knight and Blair Tweed, whom all provided other options, making them less predictable and harder to compete against.
Better kick and chase
Cast your mind back to the first game of the season, against Canterbury, and the thing that still stands out was Otago's poor kicking. Otago constantly looked to put ball to boot, but kicked too far, too aimlessly and did not chase well. They were effectively handing the ball back to Canterbury in space and consequently Otago had little ball to attack with. As the season progressed they improved in this area, particularly in the chase, as they got up fast to shut down the opposition's space and prevented them form making easy metres.
More multi-dimensional
Last year, there was no-one providing the spark which would break a game open. This year, Otago addressed that by bringing Matt Faddes into centre, a strong runner who added flair and was a handful for the defence. In the forwards Naulia Dawai made a similar impact, bringing energy in everything he did to add some spark in contact, while Mika Mafi developed that ability during the season too.
Jack Wilson was usually worth a couple of good runs per game, while both first five-eighths flourished with better ball to work with.
Local players
Of the players that took the field this year, 16 were schooled within Otago. There was also Hayden Parker, Joe Latta, Lee Allan and Ben Smith, who would have played had they not been injured or in the All Blacks. That would be 20 players the province has produced, many of whom played in the Highlanders 1st XV competition which operated between 2009 and 2014.
Of the others, Liam Coltman, Sam Anderson-Heather and Tom Franklin have been in the region for years. Tei Walden has been in the south a while too, as has Jackson Hemopo and Aki Seiuli. That makes up the majority of the team and the passion they have for the blue and gold jersey is evident.
Defensive problems
Defence, or more specifically, tackling was a problem throughout the year. Early on they would defend well for patches, then undo all of their work by falling off a tackle. Towards the end of the season the last 30 minutes became the issue, as they would let teams back into the game after obtaining big leads. Many of those tries came from poor tackling technique.
In the ITM Cup the runners are too powerful and will push off weak attempts. The worst of these showings came against an historically bad Northland team, who Otago let score six tries.
Improving players
A handful of players put their hands up this year after doubts may have surrounded their abilities. No one came further than Josh Renton, who was thrown in the deep end last year after being preferred to Brad Weber. While the move to drop Weber still doesn't make sense, Renton showed himself to be competent at this level. He provided good service, but also brought a kicking game and had the vision to use it, while also sniping on occasion and looking far better on defence.
Hisa Sasagi got better as the season went on with his work around the field. By the end of the year he deservedly occupied the starting tighthead prop position. Matt Faddes finally made the impact many had predicted he would, while Michael Collins did a good job at fullback.
Talented youngsters
A bunch of rookies proved their worth this year. Adam Knight found himself in unfamiliar territory playing openside flanker for much of the season and did a good job of it too. While perhaps not classical in the No 7 jersey, he was relentless in the way he just kept tackling. Sio Tomkinson did well in his first year out of school, showing the ability to offload and bringing physicality you do not often see from players that age in the backs.
Josh Dickson was outstanding in the air and ranged well, while Sekonaia Pole always got involved and threw accurately to the lineout. None are yet the finished product, but there is plenty of potential there. Blair Tweed, although a couple of years older than the others, was impressive in his first season too, bringing a high work rate and always looking for tackles to make.
Super Rugby stocks rising
Several Otago players did themselves no harm in trying to secure Super Rugby contracts, whether it be next year or beyond. Matt Faddes was an obvious one, a strong runner with pace and the ability to tackle, both in cover and front on. He was deservedly snapped up by the Highlanders. Naulia Dawai brought energy and showed he can cope with a faster pace, but also a more physical game. He made a good impact for Otago, but also was a hard worker and would always be among the leading tacklers, often covering for misses by others.
Peter Breen may be flying under the radar, but he is heady first five-eighth who can take a gap, distribute well and make his kicks. He would have a hard time breaking into the Highlanders, but he could get a look-in elsewhere. Josh Renton probably did enough to secure the back-up Highlanders halfback role, while Blair Tweed may come on to the radar, although may still be a year or two off.
