Rarely have both Otago and Southland had so much riding on one of their matches but there is everything to play for at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
WALKING WOUNDED: Otago will be without captain Paul Grant for the game after he suffered a quadricep muscle injury against Manawatu last weekend. Liam Coltman will take over the captaincy of the side which will be bolstered by the return of lock Tom Donnelly who was unable to play last weekend due to a stomach upset. Southland’s wings Bryan Milne and Gareth Williams-Spiers were the only players with injury concerns but both have been passed fit to play.
FORM: The game finds the side at two different stages in their seasons. Otago beat Manawatu 52-41 to stem a run of three losses in a row, including a spectacular post-Ranfurly Shield blowout 16-49 to Tasman. However, Southland, after a run of poor results with only a win over Waikato in the first four rounds, has beaten Bay of Plenty 33-25 and North Harbour 34-31.
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OTAGO v SOUTHLAND Saturday 28 September, 2.35pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium, DunedinPlayed: 234, 1887-2012Otago wins: 143 | Southland wins: 81 | Draws: 10 Last match: Otago 15 Southland 10, 06.09.12 in Invercargill (ITMC) |
WE THINK: There is plenty for both sides to play for in this Championship contest. Otago sit one point behind Southland but know that a win could help secure home advantage in the upcoming play-offs. Southland have their captain Jamie Mackintosh playing his 100th game for the province and with two come-from-behind wins in their most recent outings they will be in a confident frame of mind. However, these contests are traditionally raw-boned affairs and given the situation for both sides, and the continuing battle to secure the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield, held by Otago, this should be a hard-fought encounter. We pick Otago by 5.
TEAMS
Otago:1.Craig Millar, 2.Liam Coltman, 3.Scott Manson, 4.Tom Donnelly, 5.Tom Franklin, 6.Gareth Evans, 7.Hugh Blake, 8.TJ Ioane, 9.Fumiaki Tanaka, 10.Hayden Park, 11.Fa’aisu Fuatai, 12.Jayden Spence, 13.Kieran Moffat, 14.Buxton Popali’i, 15.Peter Breen.
Reserves: 16.Sam Anderson Heather, 17.Aki Seiuli, 18.Charlie O’Connell, 19.Lee Allan, 20. Josh Renton, 21.Tei Walden, 22.Matt Faddes.
Southland: 1.Jamie Mackintosh, 2.David Hall, 3.Juan Koen, 4.Josh Bekhuis, 5.Michael Fatialofa, 6.John Hardie, 7.Tim Boys, 8.Elliot Dixon, 9.Scott Eade, 10.Marty McKenzie, 11.Gareth Williams-Spiers, 12.Willis Halaholo, 13.Cardiff Vaega, 14.Bryan Milne, 15.Robbie Robinson.
Replacements: 16.Talemaitoga Tuapati, 17.Nicholas Barrett, 18.Hale T-Pole, 19.Naulia Dawai, 20.Tayler Adams, 21.Calvary Fonoti, 22.Tim Cornforth.
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