Southland Stags to put stake in ground in Te Anau
The Stags will play the Southland Development team for 40 minutes followed by another 40 minutes against the North Otago Heartland team on Saturday.
The Southland Stags get a chance to make their first statement in 2023 when they line up in a “game of three halves” in Te Anau.
The Stags will play the Southland Development team for 40 minutes followed by another 40 minutes against the North Otago Heartland team on Saturday.
Southland Development and North Otago will then square-off for 40 minutes.
Rugby Southland director of rugby Matt Saunders said there was a sense of excitement as to what some of the players can produce in their first of two preseason hit-outs before the competition opener on August 6.
It included some players who have been recruited from elsewhere. They are players who the Stags decision-makers have watched plenty of video of, but Saturday will provide a chance to watch them live in a Southland jersey.
“Shneil Singh, Danny Drake, Ben Strang… We’ve seen them train and they are looking really good, but it will be good to get them on the field and see how they go.”
Saturday also provides an ideal chance to get some game time into players who have had extended breaks.
Saunders pointed to the likes of Blues club players who haven’t played for close to a month, while other players were coming off long breaks.
“Dan Hollinshead hasn’t played since February, Ben Strang has had about 26 minutes since February. A lot of guys that just haven’t played a lot of footy.
“So, touch wood, we just want to get through with no injuries… The result is the result, but it’s more about getting some of our processes in place.”
Saunders expected over 40 minutes the Southland Development team will give the Stags a good test on Saturday, as will the North Otago team.
He recalls coaching a Southland B in previous years which beat the Stags over 40 minutes during preseason.
Both the Stags and Southland Development teams have had four team trainings each to date and Saunders expected there might be a few errors as they find their feet.
He said during the first week together the Stags sacrificed some rugby-specific work for some team bonding as a group.
The early signs are that it has been a good approach, Saunders said.
“It’s a great group of men so far. We haven’t faced any adversity yet, but I think we are going to be ready to handle it because of the groundwork we’ve done and the culture. There’s been a real emphasis on bringing in good men.
“They are already very tight and enjoying each other’s company, but like I said, the pressure will come on.”
Saunders said he had already noticed that some internal competition for positions had lifted players at training.
“For example, on the wing at trainings we have four guys, and I don’t know how they are going to pick it. Even lock, looseforwards, you’ve got to be on… There’s going to be some pressure to perform early on which is great.”
It is expected that the Stags will roll out almost two different playing 15s for the two 40-minute games on Saturday given the side of the squad they have.
It is expected the in-form Greg Dyer will get the first shot in the No 10 jersey on Saturday as he looks to state his case for the competition opener against Waikato.
Saunders said experienced first five-eighth Marty Banks was making good strides returning from a groin injury but won’t play in Te Anau on Saturday.
He’s also “highly unlikely” to be ready to go for round one on August 6.
It’ll mean the all-important No 10 jersey will go to either Dyer or Hollinshead.
Former fringe Tasman first five-eighth Corey McKay has made the shift south and is also waiting in the wings if further injury strikes at first five-eighth.
McKay will start for the Southland Development team in the No 10 jersey against the Stags on Saturday.
New Zealand Under-20 hooker Jack Taylor hasn’t yet linked with the Stags after returning on Sunday from South Africa where he was playing in the U20 World Cup.
He is on an enforced break at the moment, although Saunders said that has been a challenge.
“He is meant to have 10 days off from Sunday, but he is already adamant he is going to be in on Monday.
“He would have got off the plane and been there on Monday if we had let him, we’ve jettisoned him to the farm and said, ‘we don’t want to see you’, to give him a break. But we’ll probably have to let him in on Monday.
“He’s something special, we can’t keep him away forever. He’s keen to get into it.”
The Stags will have one more preseason outing against Otago in Dunedin next Friday before the following weekend taking on Waikato in Invercargill with competition points at stake.