There is a lot to work with. And there is a lot to work on.
That best sums up Otago’s final preseason hit at Forsyth Barr Stadium today.
Canterbury finished over the top of the home side to win 34-31.
Winger Wil Gualter scored three sharp tries for the visitors and Blair Murray slipped over in the last minute to seal the win.
But for 40 minutes, Otago played sparkling rugby and led 26-10 at halftime.
If it can combine more pieces like this, it will win a lot of games in the NPC this year.
Otago coach Tom Donnelly was delighted with the first half.
“I am very happy. Of course we are disappointed with the score at the end, but I thought we had a very good first half,” he said.
“Some of those young lads got a lesson in the second half on what it takes to finish a game, but it was pretty positive overall.”
Center Josh Timu looked just inches from the action when he wasn’t in the thick of it. His workload was quite exceptional. He even managed to set up an attempt for himself.
Timu stepped on a defender, who had jumped up after a goalkeeper throw, towards the corner.
Canterbury scrambled but a few stages later, Timu surfaced near the ruck and charged forward as a loose attacker.
Lock Will Tucker helped set up the next one. He tore the ball free in midfield and Otago swung from defense to attack.
Impressive blindside Oliver Haig got a short pass at the end and broke loose. He got the ball away from fullback Sam Gilbert who in turn found Jona Nareki.
Nareki has been sidelined for the best part of the past year with a knee injury and produced some brilliant touches in his second game back.
He pulled the last defender and Haig supported him to take the pass and score. The young man made a try-saving tackle later in the game, was a lineout addition and an excellent value.
Otago added another via prop Abraham Pole. He crashed after warding off Otago’s first lineout drive.
The home side ended the half with Nareki coming into the corner with an athletic finish after another great build.
It was almost the perfect 40 minutes with a few exceptions. Otago looked vulnerable on his right wing and Canterbury made some promising runs down that wing.
The home side didn’t get to number early and Gualter won the race to the corner flag to score against a defensive catch up.
He took his second with a nice chip and a dexterous fingertip that gathered again in the goal area.
Donnelly made a lot of changes during the second period and the home side lost momentum and, most importantly, structure.
The defense, which had been solid for the most part except on the right, suddenly looked very thin.
Lock Fabian Holland extended a long arm to extend the lead to 31-10.
But that was certainly as good as it got for Otago.
Gualter took his third and Canterbury’s peloton went to work, delivering a penalty and whore George Bell crashed at close range.
It was disappointing that the match slipped, but Otago looked good for the opening of the NPC game against Counties Manukau in Auckland on Saturday.
the scores
Canterbury 34: Wil Gualter 3, George Bell, Blair Murray tries; penalty try, Alex Hartford con. Otago 31: Josh Timu, Oliver Haig, Abraham Pole, Jona Nareki, Fabian Holland tries; Cameron Millar 3 con. Rest: 26-10 Otago.