Rugby: Flanker has tough job against Collins

Wellington v Northland

Lightweight flanker Iva Motusaga became an important part of the Wellington rugby machine this week when Kupu Vanisi was pulled out of tomorrow's NPC first division match with Northland.

While the selection of All Black wing Jonah Lomu will please the spectators, the loss of Vanisi promises to have more impact on the outcome of the match.

He hopes his troublesome hamstring will be right for next Saturday's match with Taranaki, but his loss suggests some problem areas for Wellington tomorrow at WestpacTrust Stadium.

Northland have All Black pretender Justin Collins as their No 7. Collins was outstanding against Waikato last week, and in a team beaten by 40 or so points that takes some doing.

So Motusaga, with just one NPC game under his belt, has a lot of work to do.

At 94kg, he does not offer the physical presence that Collins does, but he is an excellent support player who has been carefully guided by technical advisor Graham Mourie.

Other changes forced on Mourie and coach David Rennie are at loosehead prop, where Kevin Yates had a scan on his strained collarbone yesterday, aimed at having him right for the Taranaki game next week.

Mike Edwards tweaked one of his troublesome calf muscles in speed training on Thursday night, and is in doubt. If he starts, Morne van der Merwe starts at loosehead with Edwards on the tight side.

If Edwards does not start, Kas Lealamanua gets his first NPC start and van der Merwe goes back to tighthead.

Motusaga does not know much about Collins.

Nonetheless, he is looking forward to it. "Should be fun, eh," he said.

Lomu is back but Alama Ieremia, who has light bruising, will come off the bench.

Jason O'Halloran did not train because of the flu, and Paul Steinmetz seemed to hurt a hip in the final moments of training. Injured All Blacks Christian Cullen and Tana Umaga watched from the sideline.

Lomu will make his Wellington debut, and that seems courtesy of his ability to sleep better than most.

While his Wellington team-mates arrived back from South Africa physically and mentally shattered on Wednesday, Lomu seemed to be relatively unaffected, something he puts down to his ability to put his head down and sleep anywhere.

Lomu describes the prospect of his first game for Wellington as scary.

"I know what it's like here, but I just want to do well, and if I get the chance I'll have a go," he said.

- NZPA