There is a saying in acting circles that a poor rehearsal will often lead to a great performance on opening night.
North Otago co-coach Barry Matthews is hoping the adage holds true against Wanganui in Oamaru today after the team's final practice on Thursday night .
"No, things didn't go too well, really. The forwards had a long spell with Growler [Glenn Moore] and it was quite dark when we had the team run and there was a lot of dropped ball, but hopefully good will come out of that," he said.
"I'm not too worried. Maybe I was a bit keen or a bit eager, which is not a bad thing."
Coach Guy Lennox's Wanganui will be out to retain its unbeaten record. It has proven to be fallible in that it failed to earn a bonus point against South Canterbury and Thames Valley, not two of the strongest sides in the Heartland competition.
But North Otago will not be taking it lightly.
"They've got a good experienced front row and some very good loose forwards as well as having some good finishers in the backs," Matthews said.
North Otago has made one change in the backs, with winger Sione Pangata dropped from the starting squad. His place on the right wing has been taken by Ofa Fatai.
"He's got that X-factor," Matthews said.
"Last season I thought that he was outstanding. He's still got to develop his skills but he's capable of doing something out of the ordinary on the paddock."
Ross Hay, who has made 122 appearances for North Otago as a flanker, could be seen in a new role, coming off the bench as a lock.
The North Otago backline and the contact area are still concerns for Matthews.
"It's just the depth or lack of it on attack. We're still really flat on the ball. In the contact area we're just not blowing past the ball. We've got to be a lot more physical at the breakdown."
On the positive side, North Otago has produced its best performances this season on its home ground, but it must keep on winning if it is to secure a home semifinal.
With two matches remaining, Wanganui leads the competition on 28 points, three ahead of North Otago and Mid Canterbury.
Mid Canterbury plays South Canterbury in Ashburton this afternoon and unless South Canterbury has a massive form reversal, the home side should gain five vital points before it plays Wanganui in Wanganui the following week.
North Otago will play Thames Valley in Paeroa the same day in its final match. In the other Meads Cup game today, Poverty Bay plays Thames Valley in Gisborne. A win would almost certainly put Poverty Bay into the semifinals.
In the Lochore Cup, Horowhenua-Kapiti (six points) hosts Wairarapa-Bush (nine), King Country (11) meets Buller (nine) in Te Kuiti, and West Coast (nine) takes on East Coast (none) in Greymouth.
NTH OTAGO v WANGANUI
Oamaru, 2.30pm today
North Otago: Billy Guyton, Ofa Fatai, Faaitu Tuamoheloa, Luke Herden (captain), Greg Zampach, Ben Patston, Kilifi Fangupo, Tevita Fifita, Ryan Long, Josh Collier, Eric Duff, Dave Simpson, Palenapa Mafi, Stu Philpott, Ralph Darling.
Reserves: Ipana Taua, Dylan Winter, Ross Hay, Uilisoni Tahitua, Hamish McKenzie, Chris Talanoa, Lemi Masoe.
Wanganui: Fraser Middleton, Ace Malo, Tau Moeke, Steelie Koro, Jonny Mow, Mark Davis, Denning Tyrell, Adam Roe, Peter Rowe, Fraser Hammond, Jon Smyth, Aaron Kelly, Shaun McDonough, Cole Baldwin, Matt Gilbert (captain).
Reserves: Shane Ratima, Darren Munro, Justin Lock, Chris Harris, Matthew Koubaradis, Vance Peraka, Sam Scown.
- Terry O'Neill
