Otago Review
PROPS:
Abraham Pole: 8/10
Rohan Wingham: 7.5/10
Ben Lopas: 6.5/10
Jermaine Ainsley: 7.5/10
Saula Ma'u: 8.5/10
Thought the whole unit was really good, with our scrum going very well. Ma'u came on massively, and would really like to see him start a few more games for the Landers next year. Him and de Groot would be the start of a monstrous front row for certain games
HOOKERS:
Henry Bell: 7/10
Ricky Jackson: 6/10
Both started the season a little slowly, but by the end of it, I thought Bell in particular was looking good. Does the basics well, and is really busy in and around the fringes which I like. Will be fascinating to see how he goes in Super Rugby
LOCKS:
Josh Dickson: 7/10
Fabian Holland: 8.5/10
Will Tucker: 5/10
Josh Hill: 6/10
Dickson and Hill were fine, and the latter shapes as an acceptable replacement for the former, who departs for the land of the rising sun. Reckon Holland was really good, but misused by Donnelly, who didn't really get the best out of him. I just don't see it with Will Tucker. My guess is Donnelly likes him, which is probably why he gets a Highlanders gig, but I think he is decidedly average, though admittedly fine for Otago.
LOOSE FORWARDS:
Christian Lio-Willie: 8/10
Tom Sanders: 6/10
Sean Withy: 5.5/10
Sam Fischli: 5/10
Harry Taylor: 6/10
Will Stodart: 7/10
Not sure we really got the best out of our loose forward trio for one reason or another. Lio-Willie was dominant, but the rest, barring Stodart, who clearly should have had way more game time, were either disappointing or just played to their low level of ability. Withy and Sanders in particular weren't as good as you might have liked...
HALFBACKS:
James Arscott: 6/10
Kieran McClea: 5.5/10
Nathan Hastie: 7/10
The big cock-up by the coaches, and you wonder whether it might have cost us quite possibly was the halfback situation. Hastie is clearly the pick of the bunch, and was massively underused. The issue here was really they had the pecking order wrong, rather than the way any of the individuals performed
FIRST FIVES:
Cam Millar: 6/10
Ajay Faleafaga: 6/10
Millar hardly sighted, though was good when he played. Hopefully he can get over these injuries. Faleafaga didn't rock my world, and can't control a game with his boot. Could he blossom into a superb playmaker in a better team? Time will tell. I mean Aaron Cruden was a very good All Black 10 despite having a fairly rubbish punt, so it isn't impossible, but the rest of his game will have to be so good. The one thing I will say about Faleafaga, is he doesn't really seem to take dumb options like a Josh Ioane used to. Occasionally there is an average kick, but that is more of a reflection of a rubbish gameplan I think
MIDFIELDERS:
Thomas Umaga-Jensen: 6.5/10
Jake Te Hiwi: 6.5/10
Josh Whaanga: 7.5/10
Jack Leslie: 6.5/10
None of these were individually bad, and were a victim of poor tactics/selection choices. Most of these make bad combinations together, but were actually individually pretty good. The cynic in me wonders if you will ever see TUJ for Otago again. Whaanga capped off a good first season with a great final outing. Hopefully he can grow into being a really strong dependable 13 option, because he certainly isn't a winger. Just not sure he could play with Te Hiwi, as that is a fairly slow midfield.
OUTSIDE BACKS:
Sam Gilbert: 7.5/10
Jona Nareki: 7/10
Finn Hurley: 5/10
John Tapueluelu: 6/10
Jeremiah Asi: 6/10
Once again, our outsides were victims of the dumb tactics... Gilbert played a bit of everywhere, but we are clearly better when he is on the field. I suspect he might settle at 12, and if he does, he needs to focus on using his frame. Just show him videos of Jordie Barrett, because if he can be 85-90% of that, I'd take it.
Nareki and Tavatavanawai are going to be a great pairing on the wings for the Landers... Asi and Tapueluelu were fine, but Hurley the interesting one. Clearly has some pace and skills, but I just don't think he can fight his size. Will always have some great highlight moments, but despite his guts, he can't defend, and generally speaking struggles in contact. A shame for him, but maybe he should give 7s a crack, or work on something offshore. I don't think he will ever be a Highlander.