Stags' playing depth tested in preseason loss
“Stag Day is not today."
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A Southland Stags squad hit by illness and injury has been beaten 40-31 in a preseason outing against Otago on Friday.
Southland delved deep into its playing stocks for the trip to Dunedin, with only Michael Manson of the Stags’ Super Rugby contingent lining up in the preseason game.
The decision-makers opted to “save” the likes of Semisi Tupou-Ta’eiloa, Sean Withy and Co., given they are set for big workloads throughout the NPC season.
“Stag Day is not today,” Stags co-coach James Wilson said about the decision to rest some key players.
On top of those players who were rested, a host of other Stags squad members did not play on Friday due to injury and illness reasons.
Halfback Connor McLeod picked up a tight hamstring during the captain’s run on Thursday, which meant he was a late withdrawal.
Outside back Brad Kooman had to pull out the morning of the game because of illness, while looseforward Caleb Karangaroa, who himself was already brought in as cover, was another late withdrawal because of illness.
It meant Blues halfback Conor Rous was called in, while the versatile Justin Shaw got a phone call on the morning of the game to say he was needed in Dunedin.
Shaw made a name for himself as a No 8 for the Southland Boys’ High School first XV in 2023 before progressing onto the Highlanders U20s, also as a looseforward.
However, Shaw played on the right wing in Woodlands’ Galbraith Shield win last Saturday, and that was where he slotted in for the Stags against Otago on Friday.
“He covered both wing and looseforward, which was fantastic,” Wilson said.
Wilson said the preseason outing in Dunedin did test Southland’s playing depth, but it also provided an ideal opportunity to look at different players at a level above club rugby.
“It was great to see them get some game time and adjust to the speed of play,” Wilson said.
Woodlands No 8 Ethan McDonald was one of those players from outside the squad who was provided an opportunity. He ended up getting through 80 minutes against Otago.
“It was good to see him get a run because he has impressed at club for Woodlands. He’s a big body, and we wanted to test him out at this level.”
Fellow loose forward Jayden Broome, who is in his first year out of school, was also handed an opportunity on Friday, and the Gore teenager showed some encouraging signs off the bench for such a young player.
“He got a nice turnover. He didn’t look like he had just come out of school. He played well.
“There were nice soft skills, ball playing, from him through the middle.”
It included a nice pass out of the back, which sent Fletcher Morgan down the sideline.
Broome is coming off an impressive club season with University in Dunedin.
A couple of weeks out from the NPC season opener, there are some concerns around the Stags’ looseforward stocks.
Both Hayden Michaels and Leroy Ferguson are carrying injuries, while Sam Fischli hobbled off on Friday and will need to be assessed.
“Our loose forwards have got a bit of a curse at the moment,” Wilson said.
Southland was slow out of the blocks on Friday and found themselves 17-0 down before trailing 26-12 at halftime on the back of tries to McDonald and halfback Nic Shearer.
“In that first 40 minutes, we were probably behind the eight-ball in the collision on both sides, defensively and in attack,” Wilson said.
“They were faster than us at the breakdown and probably more physical. They were getting dominance there; we turned over the ball 10 or 11 times in that first half.
“So, the start wasn’t great for us. That was about guys getting up to that NPC speed now. This isn’t club anymore, we are back playing a quicker game of rugby.
“So, it was good to get that in.”
Wilson said that was addressed at halftime, and they were a bit better in the second half in that department, for a start at least.
“We got dominance in our carry, and that provided us quick ball to play and score, so the reaction was great.”
Southland scored first in the second half to make 26-17, although Otago responded with a couple of tries to stretch out to 40-17 at one point.
The Stags finished with two tries. the last to centre Isaac Te Tamaki, to make the final score 40-31.
There was a little skirmish after the Te Tamaki try with the Stags captain for the preseason game, feeling he might have caught with a high shot in scoring by Otago’s Sam Gilbert.
An area of concern for Southland was its lineout, which Wilson acknowledged would need to be sorted.
“At our last training day on Wednesday, it wasn’t where we wanted it to be, and it showed in this game.
“We were put under pressure at lineout time, and we couldn’t really pressure their ball. The lineout needs a bit of work, but we’ll get there.”
Southland has one further preseason hit out against Tasman in Christchurch next Friday.
That should provide a better gauge as to where Southland is at.
“We’ll get a squad together next week [against Tasman] that is more likely to be where the Stag Day squad will be, that is where we will get some continuity.
“We are limited on the numbers we can take up [to Christchurch] anyway, so it will be looking more like that squad for Otago.”
Although outside back Scott Gregory might be in doubt for that trip to Christchurch to play Tasman, given he had a knock to the head on Friday.
Southland will open its NPC season with a round one Stag Day clash against Otago in Invercargill on August 2.