Rugby: North Otago focused on game at hand

North Otago coach Barry Matthews says his side is not looking too far ahead of itself in defending the Heartland Championship, and the quality of opposition is a complete mystery.

North Otago will kick off its campaign with a historic game against West Coast at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday at 2.05pm. It will be the first official game of rugby to be played at the venue.

Matthews said naturally all the players were excited about getting to play in the new stadium.

"These guys are really excited. It is huge for them. They will be able in 50 years from now to tell their grandkids and everyone that they were in the first team to play at the stadium," he said.

"It is going to be a day to remember but that is only if we win. It is a beautiful stadium and a great place to play."

North Otago, which beat Wanganui 39-18 in last year's final, has been training hard for the past few weeks and had a practice game against a South Canterbury side last weekend in Waimate, although Matthews said not much could be taken out of the game.

"A lot of the guys I think realised that they have to play as part of a team and not play as individuals and try to do it all yourself."

The side had done a lot of physical training, running on the roads so the bodies were tired.

Matthews, who has teamed up with Shane Carter again, said he had no idea which sides would be in contention.

"To be honest I wouldn't even know who we are playing in our third game. We are just solely concentrating on West Coast this week. I don't know a lot about them, to be honest, but they're bound to be competitive."

North Otago will be without a couple of key players this season with flanker Ross Hay retired and halfback Kilifi Fangupo injured.

But apart from those losses, most of the players are back for another season, keen to win the title again.

The union is entitled to three loan players and a player of origin. Matthews was still working through those players but had gained a winger from Northland, Whiria Meltzer.

For this week, experienced campaigners Luke Herden and Greg Zampach will turn out again for North Otago, after impressive campaigns last season, although they are not certainties for the whole season.

Matthews has until after the fourth round to decide on imports and the player of origin.

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