Otago aim to end dismal run of 11 losses in row

Otago have some catching up to do when it comes to beating Auckland.

They have lost their last 11 matches against Auckland, six times conceding more than 40 points, and their last win was at Carisbrook (25-21) in 1993.

In 29 NPC games against Auckland, Otago have won five, drawn one and lost 23.

Even with the resources available to Auckland, it is not a record which fills Otago fans with delight.

Coach Laurie Mains was surprised at the dearth of recent victories.

"I thought we had beaten them more recently than that," he said yesterday.

Otago's most recent effort against Auckland was a 50-9 loss at Eden Park in the final game of last season when Otago, with eight All Blacks, crumpled after a promising start.

Auckland go into today's game after a solid 21-13 win over Waikato last week, while there has been soul-searching in Otago after their 62-19 loss to Canterbury.

Mains believes Otago are better prepared than last week.

"We're a lot more settled, with the All Blacks having been back for two weeks.

"Having Paul Miller and Josh Blackie return gives us back our combination in the loose forwards. I'm sure that will be an advantage to us.

"Auckland play a percentage game, but they're capable of scoring some very good tries."

Miller and Blackie missed the loss to Canterbury because of a shin injury and damaged ribs respectively. They replace Justin Matheson and Hale Tu'uhoko in two of four changes. The others are the return of All Blacks captain Anton Oliver as hooker and captain in place of Tom Willis, and Ryan Nicholas on the right wing, in a reshuffled backline.

Jeff Wilson moves from right wing to fullback and Brendan Laney from fullback to first five-eighth, replacing the injured Tony Brown.

The absence of Brown and halfback partner Byron Kelleher is bad news for the home side.

The other positional change is in the loose forwards, where Sam Harding moves from the openside to the blindside flank.

Auckland have won four of their five games, scoring 13 tries to six, while Otago have won three out of five, scoring 19 tries to 15.

Auckland's games have been lower-scoring because of bad weather, but they have a backline capable of cutting loose, spearheaded by Carlos Spencer.

There will be some intriguing individual battles - Carl Hoeft against Christian Califano, Blackie against Justin Collins, Miller against Samiu Vahafolau, Laney against Spencer and Wilson against Mils Muliaina.

Auckland are third going into the match and could overcome a loss more easily than Otago, three points back, for whom a defeat could be disastrous in the contest of a tight run-in to decide the four semifinalists.

The team who display the most intensity and precision will take an important step towards the semifinals.

- NZPA