Rugby: Proctor makes timely recovery

Matt Proctor. Photo by Getty
Matt Proctor. Photo by Getty
When Matt Proctor left Toll Stadium in Whangarei after round four of the ITM Cup he thought his season was over.

The Wellington outside back was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain in his left leg and was expected to spend six to eight weeks on the sidelines.

Luckily for Wellington, the 20-year-old has recovered in exactly six weeks and will start at fullback for the Lions in their Premiership semifinal encounter with Counties Manukau at the Cake Tin tonight.

Before the intermission, Proctor was in exciting form as part of Wellington's impressive backline.

He played a key role in their first round 55-16 win over Counties but said that result would count for little tonight against the Ranfurly Shield holders.

"We are expecting a totally different team than what we played in the first round," Proctor said.

"They've improved heaps and I guess they've had a lot of finals footy compared to us. They won the Championship last year and looking after the Shield week in, week out, is like finals footy. So they've got a bit of experience there."

Proctor's swift recovery came at a perfect time for Wellington coach Chris Boyd who was unable to pick Cory Jane (All Blacks duty) and Charlie Ngatai (hamstring) in the No 15 jersey.

"I've come back on the good side of six weeks and heaps of credit goes to the medical staff," Proctor said. "They've done a pretty good job of getting me back out there."

Halfback Frae Wilson is another player returning from the medical ward for the semifinal encounter after he suffered a knee injury during Wellington's win over Bay of Plenty in week five.

It's a slight gamble from Boyd to bring Wilson straight in to the starting side given Tomasi Palu had functioned so smoothly behind Wellington's dominant forward pack recently.

The Lions come in to the playoffs on the back of a disappointing 35-24 loss to Hawkes Bay in Napier last week, which robbed them of a perfect 10 from 10 for the regular season.

"A performance like that can do two things," Boyd said. "It can either erode your confidence or steel your resolve and I think for us it's been the latter. There's been a lot of disappointment in that performance and the outcome."

Wellington wing Ambrose Curtis returns to the squad and will play from the bench after being on New Zealand sevens duty for the past two weeks, while Shaun Treeby will start at second-five after missing the loss to Hawkes Bay.

Counties will hold little fear in heading to the capital given they've looked sharp in recent weeks and are a side that has been galvanised by their Ranfurly Shield success.

There's also the Tana Umaga factor. The Counties coach was a mainstay in the capital between 1994 and 2007 and racked up 100 appearances for the province.

Now in his coaching role he would love to score a win over his old side.

Counties Manukau's strengths lie in their dangerous backs with Frank Halai, Rey Lee-Lo and Bundee Aki all capable of causing havoc.

Wellington are firm favourites with the bookies and if their Super Rugby laden forward pack gets a rumble on it should settle the argument.


Wellington: Matt Proctor, Joe Hill, Tim Bateman, Shaun Treeby, Alapati Leiua, Lima Sopoaga, Frae Wilson, Victor Vito (captain), Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Api Naikatini, Mark Reddish, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Motu Matu'u, John Schwalger. Reserves: Reggie Goodes, Eric Sione, Kaipati Gaualofa, Faifili Levave, Adam Hill, Tomasi Palu, Ambrose Curtis.

Counties Manukau: Ahsee Tuala, Frank Halai, Rey Lee-Lo, Bundee Aki, Toni Pulu, Baden Kerr, Kane Hancy, Fritz Lee (c), Maama Vaipulu, Adam Cathcart, Jimmy Tupou, Ronald Raaymakers, Matt Talaese, Hika Elliot, Jarrod Firth. Reserves: Suliasi Taufalele, Simon Lemalu, Sikeli Nabou, Mark Selwyn, Lucky Palamo, Ki Anufe, Sam Vaka.


 

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