@Canes4life Son of.

Wellington starting to get some firepower back. Good to see Riley Higgins make an early return.

Wellington Lions team to take on Otago:

1. Xavier Numia
2. James O’Reilly
3. Siale Lauaki
4. Caleb Delany
5. Hugo Plummer
6. Brad Shields
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi ©
8. Peter Lakai
9. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara
10. Aidan Morgan
11. Pepesana Patafilo
12. Peter Umaga-Jensen
13. Billy Proctor*
14. Losi Filipo
15. Ruben Love
16. Josh Southall
17. Cameron Orr
18. PJ Sheck
19. Akira Ieremia
20. Dominic Ropeti
21. Kyle Preston
22. Riley Higgins
23. Connor Garden-Bachop

PJ Scheck should have been penalised for getting in from the side there. He just dived in. Not spotted.

A few players that stood out for me in this game were Lauaki, Shields, Kirifi and Lakai. The loose forward trio for the Lions is very well balanced and they were at the forefront of that physical approach on defence.

In the backs Love had a few nice touches but we really need to get him the ball more. He made a few clean line breaks but unfortunately neither lead to tries scored.

For Otago, Jona Nareki was a danger almost every time he touched the ball and Josh Dickson really stood out in that pack.

@Canes4life Southall did ok, i thought Penieli Poasa did well with the 7mins he got, id like to see him get more time at this level. one of the stand outs for Ories this season, a very underrated player with alot of potential.

impressed with Shields, it was like he never left! with Lakai back would be a Lethal back 3

our downfall would be 9 and Morgan, still erratic with some decision making and still cannot kick a goal esp the ones right infront lol. there is some reassurance knowing Love is at the back though

will be a good game, otago have a great side

Big game for me, sitting in the Hutt supporting my boys in the blue and gold!

@Winger Otago lock Will Tucker.

Flush the dunny on that game v Ta$man, was always going to be tricky. Wellington this week will be tricky. I've heard Millar might have re-injured his ankle which is why he missed v Ta$man, though I don't know whether that was a one week, or one month thing. As neither he or Faleafaga were listed as injured, I'm assuming they are back. I also think Abraham Pole should be back

My team v Wellington

1. Wingham

2. Jackson

3. Ainsley

4. Holland

5. Dickson

6. Fischli

7. Withy

8. Lio-Willie

9. Arscott

10. Millar

11. Nareki

12. Te Hiwi

13. Umaga-Jensen

14. Whaanga

15. Gilbert

16. Bell

17. Pole

18. Ma'u

19. Tucker

20. Sanders

21. Hastie

22. Faleafaga

23. Asi

• Hard to know when only a handful of players were listed as injured, but I'd hope we can use Sanders and co. this week.

• One thing is for sure, I don't think Caleb Leef will be sighted, and if I'm correct on availability, I think Hurley could probably do with some time out the spotlight.

That last pass from O’Reilly was good

Hurley has some nice touches. Disappointing he is such a midget

We have a lot of grit. Gilbert playing more like a 12 than a 10

@Steven-Harris it will take its toll. And there you go. Brad Shields in.

Higgins already making a difference to the Lions attack with two touches.

Lions just look more physically imposing

Outstanding bit of commentary from Laban , pissed myself laughing, I’m sure Alama will cracking up himself