Sopoaga making up for lost time

RUGBY

LIMA SOPOAGA can take the raft of selection changes around him as a decent sort of compliment ahead of Wellington’s match against North Harbour today.

Lions coach Chris Boyd has made six changes to his starting XV and handed young second fiveeighth Ope Peleseuma his first NPC start.

For Sopoaga, it represents a deserving vote of confidence four days after he steered the Lions to a 36-26 win over Bay of Plenty at Mt Maunganui in his first start at any level in six months.

‘‘It was just good to get out there, run around, make a few tackles, kick a few goals. It wasn’t perfect but it’s a starting point. I’m just happy to be back playing rugby,’’ he said yesterday.

‘‘I had enough time [on the training paddock] behind me and I had Tim Bateman outside me, he has been awesome just helping me out from the midfield and my other mate Shaun [Treeby] there, so I just focused on doing my core role and finding my groove again.’’

Sopoaga looked as though he’d never left as he was successful with eight of eight attempts at goal and, bar a couple of moments of over exuberance, directed play well.

The fact Boyd felt comfortable ringing the changes for today’s match, and leaving Bateman at centre, suggests he liked the shape Sopoaga brought to the attack.

It marked the peak of a gradual return from a serious shoulder injury the 21-year-old suffered playing for the Highlanders, and Sopoaga relished the opportunity.

‘‘It’s good fun. Boydy has given us a licence to play, not to be stupid, but if it’s on to have a go and the boys are enjoying it.

‘‘He gives us the ability to think for ourselves but a blueprint to stick to where if we see something else we can take it and the boys are loving it.’’

Winless North Harbour represent an opportunity for Wellington to cut loose provided they don’t get carried away.

Boyd’s changes include

a rejigged loose trio that sees big No 8 Genesis Mamea and blindside flanker Mark Reddish come into the side and Ardie Savea shift from the back of the scrum to his more natural position of openside.

Motu Matu’u gets a rare start at hooker ahead of Dane Coles, while Frae Wilson returns at halfback for Kayne Hammington and Jason Woodward takes over from Matt Proctor on the wing.

Peleseuma replaces Treeby, who gets a rest of sorts in the reserves.

Boyd said he was wary of Harbour’s attacking game and didn’t believe they were as poor as their seven losses suggest.

‘‘They’ve had a number of really close games and not quite got it across the line. I think they’ve used five different goal kickers and had a combined success of 52 per cent or something.

‘‘If they’d had a really good goal kicker then certainly they wouldn’t be winless.’’