Rise and shine Lions, it’s D-Day

Wakey, wakey Wellington.

Slumbering Lions might be welcome on the savanna but they’re a dead loss in the Mitre 10 Cup.

That’s maybe being a little hard on Wellington, who did secure a home semifinal some weeks ago. It’s just that they’ve been fast asleep ever since.

For the 50-point embarrassments against Manawatu and Taranaki it was for the full 80. Last week’s effort against Waikato was significantly better, before a 10-minute snooze cost them victory.

Fail to stay awake against North Harbour, in today’s championship semifinal at Westpac Stadium, and the Lions can nod off till next year.

‘‘We rehearsed this week and it was just about finding those moments in the game last week that we got wrong and making sure that we stick to our processes,’’ coach Earl Va’a said of what Wellington have done to try and close games out better.

Ideally Wellington want to get a few points up today and then not spend any time in their own half. If they play everything down North Harbour’s end there will be errors to feed off and risk-free opportunities aplenty. At least in theory.

In practice, the Lions simply have to be harder on themselves and not stint on their kick-chase or forget to number up properly on defence. They didn’t do a lot wrong at the end of the Waikato match, but it was still enough to cause the 28-24 defeat.

Thankfully centre Matt Proctor will back on deck, having missed most of the Manawatu game and all of the Taranaki and Waikato ones. Not the biggest or loudest player around, Proctor is proof that there’s more to being a good defender than knocking guys flat.

‘‘He understands our defensive system and that’s probably what’s been missing the last three games, since he’s taken his head knock’’ said Va’a.

‘‘Having another voice – as quiet as it might be – and leading the boys’ defensive effort out wide will definitely shore up our defence tomorrow.’’

Proctor also complements what the rest of the team will be trying to do against North Harbour.

If Wellington have a strength it’s their pack. Provided they can play nice and direct and control the ball, they will make themselves very hard to beat.

Proctor also plays very straight and isn’t prone to errors. Put it all together and a good drive here, an astute offload there and Wellington should be able to accumulate points without great risk.

Last time around it took seven Jackson Garden-Bachop penalties to beat North Harbour 21-17 and the Lions would happily settle for that again. The main thing is not to beat themselves with a dopey decision or sluggish effort.