Weepu only wants the number nine jersey

Piri Weepu says only an injury crisis will force him to wear the Hurricanes' number ten jersey again.

Piri Weepu says only an injury crisis will force him to wear the Hurricanes' number ten jersey again.

Weepu started three games at fly-half last year, after he replaced Jimmy Gopperth during the Hurricanes' loss to the Lions in Round Eight of the Super 14.

The move to number ten could have been one of the contributing factors to Weepu's omission from Graham Henry's World Cup squad, which left Weepu so devastated that he even considered a move to Rugby League.

It was a shift that showed how far backline coach Aussie McLean's faith in Gopperth had plummeted, but Weepu said he was not interested in playing pivot again – especially if it was only because another player's form had dropped.

“I've spoken to Coops [coach Colin Cooper] and told him my main focus is [number] nine.

“If injuries do occur I will help the team out, but if there are no injuries I want to play scrum-half,” Weepu told rugbyheaven.com.au.

Cooper may have other ideas as he said Weepu remained an option at number ten and that the pressure was on Gopperth to show he could stamp his authority on a game.

“We want him to control the game, to keep the ball in front of the forwards – whether it's through his kicking, how he uses the backs, or his own ability to run.

“We're looking for real direction and leadership from Jimmy,” Cooper said.

Gopperth was upbeat about the year ahead, saying last year's Super 14 was a memory.

“I can't even remember last year. It is irrelevant,” said a defiant Gopperth.

“I really enjoyed last year's Air New Zealand Cup and the environment and how we went.

“This year with the Hurricanes it's the same feeling,” he went on to say.

After starting the Air New Zealand Cup in hesitant form and being briefly pressured for his starting jersey by newcomer Dan Kirkpatrick, Gopperth finished the season in the sort of form that saw him star for the Junior All Blacks a year earlier.

He put his progress down to the ever-improving environment within Wellington rugby.

Gopperth, who has played 39 games for the Hurricanes, said he was determined to take a firmer grip on the playmaker's role this season.

“I'm very excited. It's getting to that stage where 10 more games and I've got 50, so I'm one of the senior boys and I have to step up and control the game.

“That's what you've got to do at number ten and I'm looking forward to it,” the pivot said.

Gopperth will be up against 19-year-old sensation Kurtley Beale when the 'Canes travel to Sydney to face the Waratahs on Saturday.