Limited chances stall Sopoaga development
OPINION: Lima Sopoaga’s bumpy ride in the All Blacks’ jersey gives cause to question whether a paucity of game time has stifled his development this season.
The visage of an All Black in provincial colours has been all too rare in recent times, usually a result of the player being instructed to remain in camp with the national side so he can add an extra body at trainings or provide insurance in case of injury.
It’s a concept that doesn’t lack logic. But it also has flaws.
Rugby players are competitors, they want to play. That becomes even more pertinent if they have had limited chances to get matchhardened, and test themselves physically, and mentally, against other combative men.
For Sopoaga, the No 2 first fiveeighth behind Beauden Barrett since Aaron Cruden departed for France after the British and Irish Lions toured here this winter, it has been a disjointed year.
A serious hamstring injury in Super Rugby limited him to just eight outings for the Highlanders, at an average of less than 60 minutes per game, until they pitched out of the Super Rugby quarterfinals to the Crusaders on July 22. Before the Lions’ series, Sopoaga was rewarded with 21 minutes for the All Blacks when he replaced Barrett in the 78-0 rout of Samoa in Auckland on June 16.
Not required during the Lions series, Sopoaga’s next test outing was against the Wallabies two months later, a 15-minute cameo in the 54-34 victory in Sydney. In the ensuing 11 weeks he earned six caps at an average of 34 minutes per game, and there was just the one start against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
For a first-five, there are few things that beat getting time in the cockpit to sharpen the skills and bolster self-belief. It far outweighs stacking up time on the training track.
The Crusaders and Canterbury’s Richie Mo’unga is a clear example of the benefit of being battle-hardened from regular action on the paddock; despite breaking a bone in his hand in the opening round, Mo’unga still played 13 games and accumulated an average of 72 minutes in Super Rugby, and was a regular starter at No 10 when Canterbury won the Mitre 10 Cup.
The All Blacks’ management could counter the argument about releasing Sopoaga to Southland by saying the risk of injury was too great, and the schedule too tight.
The alternative view is also valid; giving Sopoaga time in Southland’s colours, even if it was for a team down on its luck, could have added some magic to his game. This season his form has been up and down.
Sopoaga was outstanding when he replaced the concussed Barrett in the 33rd minute of the epic 25-24 win over the Springboks on a sunny afternoon in Cape Town on October 7, but, clearly accustomed to playing under the roof with the Highlanders in Dunedin, struggled when they lost to the Wallabies in the wet in Brisbane a few weeks later.
Operating with a slippery ball during the win over the Barbarians in London last Sunday morning was also mandatory. Again, Sopoaga, who took the field as a replacement early in the second half, performed at several gears below the radiant performance we witnessed in Cape Town.
Perhaps his performances would have been better if told to allow his personal GPS to record some extra minutes in the provincial competition. And it also rains in Invercargill on the odd occasion. Just as it does in Brisbane and London.
Maybe some earlier outings in the deep south might have added a few extra bullets to Sopoaga’s arsenal.