Lucas Casey doubles as Otago run riot in 'Stag Day' win over Southland

The 2026 chapter of the iconic ‘Stag Day’ has ended in another win for Otago, with star flanker Lucas Casey giving All Blacks selectors a taste of what they’re missing in a two-try performance.

The new NPC campaign’s opening weekend had already produced wins for Waikato, Tasman and Taranaki when two famous southern rivals took the field in Invercargill.

With thousands of fans clad in team colours, the game started with a trio of Otago tries from the backline, with Sam Nemec-Vial and Jae Broomfield producing some impressive runs as the latter scored the first of the game, followed by Josh Timu and Riley Lucas.

It was off the back of an electric break from Nemec-Vial that Casey got his first five-pointer of the evening, making it look easy with a sharp step off his left foot close to the posts and comfortably reaching out for the line.

That fourth try came in just the 24th minute, keeping the scoreboard even with the clock.

Jona Nareki threw an audacious pass in the face of the defence in the 29th minute that was picked off by Hayata Taniyama, but just as it looked as though Southland would win some much-needed momentum, the centre was chased down by Nemec-Vial, who also won the breakdown penalty.

An enlivened crowd would get plenty more to cheer about in the 32nd minute, though, when Waratahs import Clem Halaholo shrugged off the defence to get Southland on the board.

Christian Lio-Willie quietened that noise with another Otago try in the 36th minute. Southland had a chance to respond through their All Blacks Sevens flyers when Scott Gregory made a break from within his own 22 and an ensuing cross-field kick found Michael Manson on the right edge, but the winger’s grubber was collected by Nareki and the half came to a close.

A Southland rolling maul crept forward until it was 10 metres from the Otago line in the 47th minute, but Will Stoddart wrestled his way through the pack and manhandled the ball-carrier to the ground before driving past him. Halfback Kieran McClea picked up the scraps and got the ball away to Casey, who put the foot down from inside his own 22, beating Gregory in a foot race to score a remarkable breakaway try for a loose forward.

 

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Casey’s 80-metre sprint was followed once again by a simple run-in by Lio-Willie. Southland managed one more meat pie through Jack Taylor, and that 41-14 scoreline remained at the final whistle.