Otago coach upbeat despite daunting NPC assignment

Coach Wayne Graham insists Otago are capable of winning their remaining games if they play to their potential.

Otago slipped to eighth place in the first division at the weekend after losing to Waikato 39-27.

Their remaining games are all away - to North Harbour on Saturday night, Taranaki on October 1 and Auckland on October 8.

That is a daunting assignment, but Graham said he believed the team had shown considerable improvement against Waikato.

"We're building and we can knock over any one or all three of those teams, so the challenge is still there in front of us," he said.

"We're showing improvement in all areas, which is good. We've just got to keep working hard and keep the boys' chins up."

Graham said Otago's poor results - they are out of playoff contention - were not through lack of effort.

"It's a matter of developing our plays, and getting young guys settled in among the guys who have been there for a while.

"We're determined to keep improving as a unit. As coaches, we [Graham and assistant John Haggart] are learning, too."

The Sunday Star-Times reported yesterday that former Otago coach Laurie Mains had called for the sacking of the coaching staff and the union's chairman, Ron Palenski.

Graham said he was saddened by the Rugby Union regulation which prevented Ashley Barron from making his Otago debut against Waikato and which will rule him out of consideration for the rest of the season.

Players who have been playing overseas - Barron had a season in Ireland - have to be part of their province's squad during the first four rounds of the NPC.

The match against Waikato was Otago's sixth.

"It was a cruel blow," Graham said. "All he'd wanted all his life was to have a run-on game for Otago and to have his wings clipped at the last moment was very harsh."

Promising first five-eighth Shaun Webb will have to pass a psychometric test to be available for the North Harbour game.

- NZPA


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