Proctor to captain Wellington

You hope Matt Proctor won’t be Wellington captain too long.

Not because the 25-year-old centre isn’t up to to the rigours of leading the Lions through a national provincial rugby campaign. It’s more to do with the fact that his play suggests he’s good enough for bigger stages.

Injuries have held back Proctor’s progress, a sternum complaint bringing a premature end to his Super season. When he’s fit, few match Proctor’s defensive command of midfield and ability to straighten an attack.

With previous Lions skipper Brad Shields now bound for England, Proctor possesses the kind of professionalism and quiet authority to make him the ideal man to lead the side in 2018.

When Proctor was in the team, the Hurricanes were statistically the best defensive side in Super Rugby. That didn’t go unnoticed in All Blacks circles, where accuracy and good talk are prized among midfield players.

Now Wellington’s ranks might boast a Proctor and Proctor combination in midfield, or even a pair of Umaga-Jensens, after the two sets of brothers were named in the Lions’ 38-man squad. Matt Proctor’s little brother Billy joins he and twins Peter and Thomas Umaga-Jensen in vying with Wes Goosen for game time in the 12 and 13 jumpers this season.

Hooker is another area of riches, where Asafo Aumua has recovered from his wrist injury, Dane Coles is expected to play at some point while Leni Apisai is back from the Blues.