Stag Day: An example of what rugby so desperately needs
Saturday night in Dunedin was an example of what the sport of rugby in New Zealand so desperately needs at the moment.
Credit where credit is due.
A couple of weeks ago we were pondering whether the Southland-Northland game was the worst game of NPC rugby ever played.
Some went as far as suggesting it was the worst game of rugby. The amount of kicking was horrendous.
Fast forward just a couple of weeks and on Saturday night we might have witnessed one of the best ever in the NPC.
I don’t think that’s a stretch.
Those at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin at the very least put together a pretty good case.
Otago beat Southland 31-21. It wasn’t the result the invasion of Stags supporters was hoping for.
But Saturday night was an example of what the sport of rugby in New Zealand so desperately needs at the moment.
The passion the supporters showed at the ground was one part feral but another part special.
And it appeared the players fed off that.
The game lived up to the hype that’s become attached to “Stag Day” - and the Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy that’s put on the line each year.
The endeavour in attack matched the intensity at scrum time and around the field.
As good a spectacle as it was, and as spirited as the Stags were, it was another winnable game that got away for Southland.
Again Southland started slow. Otago had the better of the first 10 minutes and went up 5-0 through a Josh Whaanga try.
It was 1-0 in the intriguing battle of the Whaanga brothers - Josh for Otago, Matt for Southland.
Lock Josh Dickson then scored the first of his two tries and by the 14-minute mark Southland found itself down 12-0, giving the Stags army in the stands little to feed off.
The momentum however swung with Southland’s strong set piece again playing a vital role in that.
Wing Michael Manson did well to score out wide from a Scott Gregory pass to make it 12-7 at the 20-minute mark.
By the 28th minute, Southland found itself in the lead on the back of probably the Stags try of the season to date.
Lock Mike McKee latched onto a long lineout throw before quickly tipping inside to flanker Leroy Ferguson who set off.
Ferguson then found Gregory in the open who went on to score. The Dan Hollinshead conversion made it 14-12.
At that point, life was good for those wearing maroon - both on the ground and in the stands.
When Dickson scored the second of his two tries in the 32nd minute to push Otago back into the lead there was obvious disappointment.
But it was the Faleafaga’s try with a minute remaining in the first half which ultimately proved to be the real killer.
Wing Jona Nerki put a chip kick into the in goal setting up a foot race between Faleafaga - on debut - and Hollinshead, which Faleafaga won.
It was the second game in a row the Stags have not be able to tidy up a kick into the in goal. It was also back-to-back games where the Stags conceded a try late in the first half.
It meant Southland went into the break 26-14 down at halftime. There were no signs of the white flag being hoisted though.
Matt Whaanga scored out wide seven minutes into the second half to get one back on his younger brother Josh. The Hollinshead conversion from the sideline brought the margin back to five points.
But that was it for the Stags in terms of point scoring, despite continuing to chance their arm in attack right up to the 80th minute.
Otago scored its fifth try at the 65th-minute mark through fullback Finn Hurley to push it out to a 10-point margin at 31-21, which remained the final score.
There was a lot to like about what the Stags put up but there are still areas in the game that they need to find improvement if they are to notch up some much-needed victories.
For whatever reason the Stags were put under pressure at the breakdown, they often didn’t have the numbers there, or at times were physically outmuscled in that department.
As a result, they were guilty of turning over too much ball again.
There were many areas and individuals that should be acknowledged though. The set piece for much of the game was one of them.
Halfback Jay Renton’s kicking game also gave Southland every chance given it including two 50-22 plays.
Blair Ryall - playing at No 8 - simply hammered home that he is a player with a bright future both through his work rate and physicality.
Manson and others also showed Southland do have enough in attack to get enthused about.
The assignments don’t get any easier for Southland. Next up is Auckland at home in Invercargill on Sunday.
It’s another chance for this team to show it is improving.