2006 finish: 6th (W6 L5). Def 44-15 by Waikato in semifinal.
Best result: Beat eventual champions Waikato 24-21 in pool play with an injury-time Nick Evans penalty. Also smashed Harbour 56-21 in a quarter-final at Albany.
Worst result: Thumped 48-7 by Auckland at EdenPark in pool play.
Dearly departed: Josh Blackie, Neil Brew, Filipo Levi.
Sick notes: James Ryan, Craig Clare.
Holidaying in France: Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman, Nick Evans.
New kids on the block: Aaron Bancroft, Ross Kennedy, Chris Noakes, Ben Smith, George Whitelock.
Shooting star: Ummm? Keep an eye out for Callum Bruce, who impressed at second-five last season and has been listed to switch to first-five in the absence of Evans.
Old stagers: 24-year-old fullback Glen Horton is the most experienced player on the books with 35 caps. Oh dear.
Coaches count: Steve Martin made a pretty decent fist of his switch from un-funny comedian to rugby coach last year, taking his unfancied side to the semis before running into eventual champions Waikato.
Quirks of the draw: Otago have dodged three potential trips to the North Island but, curiously, won't make an away trip in the south, entertaining all three of the other South Island teams at Carisbrook. Home: Northland, Canterbury, Southland, North Harbour, Tasman. Away: Wellington, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Auckland. Not playing: Counties-Manukau, Hawkes Bay, Waikato.
Scouting report
Hammered Canterbury 30-5 in the annual Sassenachs versus Cantabrians match and also topped Southland 38-37 in Invercargill. Charlie Hore kicked a few goals, a positive in the absence of Nick Evans.
Prospects
Won their first five last season but dipped out as soon as going got tough, losing to Canterbury, Harbour, Auckland and Wellington on the trot. Stopped the rot with a 56-21 away quarter-final victory - over a Harbour team that admittedly gave up the minute the Ranfurly Shield somehow slipped into their grasp - but then went quietly into the night with a 44-15 hammering by Waikato in the semi. This year's mob, which lacks an experienced core, won't do nearly that well.
Prediction: 8th. Might just sneak into the playoffs but hard to see them being a genuine title threat.
