McAlister has just thrown his toys because he didn't make the AB's squad - it doesn't surprise me at all.

 

I think Dickson plays his best rugby at fullback; I expect he will be the first choice fullback while Ben Smith is away with the AB's.

Not a bad Otago team.  Probably their first choice backline apart from Ben Smith who is with the AB's.  Plenty of experience in the tight-forwards, but a very inexperienced loose-forward trio.  I'm expecting due to the conditions it will be a low scoring encounter - it's been freezing in Dunedin over the last few days (we got a bit of snow yesterday too). Tomorrows forecast is for sleety showers and snow, and I'd imagine by 7.30pm the temperature won't be much above 0 degrees.  Because of this it will likely be a forward battle, and I think the slight advantge Otago has in the tight-forwards may give them the edge.  Overall I'm picking Otago to win by about 5 points.