It is predictable and there is little variety. The sun is out every day.
Otago have been mostly winning.
There has been no need to tinker with things.
But Otago coach Mark Brown has made some tweaks for the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury.
He has been forced to.
Otago have lost their best player, which is an enormous blow.
Christian Lio-Willie is on bereavement leave.
The powerhouse No8 has been one of the form players in the NPC.
His workload on and off the ball will be sorely missed, as will his uncanny ability to bump off tacklers and punch holes in the defence.
Brown has had to reimagine the loose forward mix in Lio-Willie’s absence.
Fortunately, he has some very good options.
Will Stodart, who is having somewhat of a breakout season for Otago, shifts to No 8 and will co-captain the team.
Highlanders loose forward Oliver Haig will start in the No 6 jersey.
He made a positive impact for Otago off the bench against Taranaki.
He is a versatile player who can cover lock.
Veteran loosie-cum-lock Charles Elton replaces Haig on the bench.
Elton played in the opener against Southland.
He was named on the bench but found himself out on the field a few moments into the game when lock Will Tucker hobbled off.
Josh Whaanga injured his ankle early during the gutsy 28-26 win over Taranaki and has been bracketed with Charlie Powell.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen will start at second five, and Sam Gilbert returns from a lower leg complaint.
He will be on the bench and share the captaincy duties with Stodart.
The only other change is the return of All Blacks prop George Bower to the squad after being a late scratching last week.
He replaces Moana Takataka
It sounds like a lot of change, but it is mostly window dressing.
Canterbury rallied to beat Tasman 31-25 last weekend to hold on to the Shield.
They have made some tweaks as well.
All Black George Bell has been named to start at hooker and will be packing down against his older brother, Otago hooker Henry Bell.
Tighthead Darcy Breen and blindside Dominic Gardiner are the other changes to the pack.
Chay Fihaki switches from winger to fullback, Kurtis MacDonald gets the nod on the right wing, and Jone Rova will start at second five for the top-of-the-table clash.
