Gopperth calling the shots

Super 14 star Jimmy Gopperth has admitted he is glad to have seen the back of centre Tana Umaga when he looks along his Hurricanes line.

Super 14 star Jimmy Gopperth has admitted he's glad to have seen the back of centre Tana Umaga when he looks along his Hurricanes line.

The fly-half explained that he felt slightly overawed having Umaga outside him and concedes he often let the All Blacks captain make the calls.

“You have a guy who is one of the best rugby players in the world standing right next to you, of course you're going to listen to him,” Gopperth said, speaking to the Dominion Post.

Nowadays, the 24-year-old believes he has more license to influence the Hurricanes as he continues to mature as a player.

“It's about time that I started running this team,” he added.

“I'm definitely feeling more comfortable now. Year by year you get more comfortable. Hopefully if all goes well, I'll be playing my 50th game later in the season.”

Since making his Super debut as a fresh-faced youngster in 2005, Gopperth has appeared 41 times for the Wellington outfit.

He has recently come under criticism from coaches Colin Cooper and Aussie McLean for not adopting a more 'heads-up' style of rugby.

Gopperth reacted by accepting the points as valid but suggested his natural instincts had possibly been coached out of him.

“When I first came on the scene that's all I did – play what was in front of me – and then I got in the mode of trying to play for everyone else and not read that game and do what I do best,” he said.

“I'm looking forward to having a go and doing what I do best – the basics well and reading what I see.”

The Hurricanes claimed their first win of the season against the Reds on Friday following a Round One defeat at the Waratahs.

However, Gopperth has pinpointed the breakdown as still being an area of concern as he perceives that turnovers are a problem for his side.

“We were a little bit more patient,” he said of the 23-18 success.

“The first game (against the Waratahs) everyone was just so keen. We've got that out of our system and went back to our basics.”

Meanwhile, Gopperth admitted that the new Experimental Law Variations adopted in the competition have been tough on player's fitness.

“Everyone has to learn how to play half-back these days because if the ball's not shifted it's a free-kick against you. Once you've cleaned the ball the next guy has to pass it,” he explained.

“The defence is a lot harder for the nine, ten and seven. Attack-wise we've got a lot more space, more time, but it's quick ball so we have to do things pretty quickly.

“Once we get these rucks sorted – I think we need to send a few more numbers in – we'll be away.”