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Blues 45
Highlanders 34
KEY POINTS:
Jimmy Gopperth set up a try and scored two in a 25-minute cameo against the Highlanders yesterday to press his claims for the Blues' No 10 jersey.
Gopperth, the North Harbour captain, looked in fine fettle as the Blues overcame a 27-12 halftime deficit to beat the Highlanders in scorching conditions at North Harbour Stadium.
Coach Pat Lam was non-committal about whether Gopperth or Tasesa Lavea, who was less convincing in his 55-minute outing, has the inside running for the starting job.
Unsurprisingly, then, Gopperth said he didn't know where he stood.
"I don't know how it's looking but every time I get an opportunity I've got to take it," he said.
With their campaign to kick-off in Perth next Friday, followed by a two-match tour of South Africa, the Blues are conscious of countering the extreme heat they are likely to encounter. As part of their preparations, players had been training in double clothing, Lam said.
The toll the conditions are expected to take should see both Lavea and Gopperth get plenty of game time and, given Gopperth's effectiveness off the bench yesterday, it would be no surprise if he were to continue in that role.
"I really enjoy the heat," he said.
"It shows that our conditioning in the off-season paid off. The boys still had a bit left in the tank at the end, which is good."
Skipper Keven Mealamu, who yesterday signed a contract extension with the NZRU that will take him through to 2011 World Cup, was happy with his side's performance in a match he felt was close to genuine Super 14 intensity.
"They really came at us hard in the first half and when we got back into the changing room we just needed to take a deep breath," he said after first-half tries to Jimmy Cowan, Jason Shoemark, Steven Setephano and Alando Soaki gave the Highlanders a healthy lead. Benson Stanley and Joe Rokocoko crossed for the Blues in the first half and Rokocoko's second and a try to John Afoa cut the gap shortly into the second.
Gopperth then came from the bench to send over fullback Paul Williams with his first touch. A try to the impressive Clint Newland put the Highlanders back in front but Gopperth then finished a neat Benson Stanley line-break, before pouncing on an errant lineout throw and running 38m to seal the result.
"With the pressure they were putting on us we were forced into making some mistakes but in the second half we got a little bit of control and used the wind a bit better," Mealamu said.
Both sides named close to their strongest teams, with Lam opting for Isaia Toeava at centre and Anthony Tuitavake on the wing, with Williams getting the nod at fullback.
With the Williams brothers Ali and Jay both on the injured list, the forward line-up was predictable enough. Kurtis Haiu and Anthony Boric locked the scrum behind the front row of Tony Woodcock, Mealamu and Afoa.
Jerome Kaino started on the blindside but his level of participation on the season-opening tour will be determined by when his partner gives birth. Halfback Taniela Moa and Rokocoko could also miss chunks of the tour for the same reason.
There was encouraging news on the injury front, with Ali Williams' back injury improving to the point where he will be considered for the touring party and Jay Williams' ankle injury also making steady progress.
