Victory over Aussie was sweet

WAIKATO TIMES

READY TO OFFLOAD: New Zealand Schools first five eighth Lima Sopoaga against Waikato under-20 during a warm-up game in Cambridge.

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Knocking off Australian Schools at Ballymore in a one-off fixture last Friday is easily the highlight of Lima Sopoaga's swiftly rising career.

Sopoaga, 18, returned home from Brisbane on Sunday with his triumphant schoolboys team-mates, elated to seal the come-from-behind win during the crunch game of the tour.

New Zealand Schools had not beaten their counterparts on Australian soil since 2005.

The Wellington College first XV captain played at first five-eighth for New Zealand secondary schools. He kicked three conversions and a penalty at the revered rugby ground for the 28-24 win. Sopoaga said New Zealand had to rally hard after being down 12-6 at halftime.

"To come back the way we did was pretty special and it was awesome to win in Australia," Sopoaga said. "That's right up there with the best of them."

Sopoaga only missed one conversion from the sidelines but said the goal kicking pressure was incomparable to any other level he had experienced.

"I was lucky enough that a few of them went over. I was just saying to myself to trust everything I've done in the past and to let the ball do the work."

Australia dominated the tryless first half, leading to a dressing down for the New Zealand players from coach Karl Jones.

Jones' harsh words prompted the fightback as New Zealand scored three tries in quick succession. The forwards came into the game allowing the backs to dominate.

Second-five eighth Francis Saili (St Peter's College), centre Chauncy Edwardson (Hamilton Boys' High School) and No 8 Antonio Kiri Kiri (Palmerston North Boys' High School) all dotted down.

Sopoaga converted Saili's and Edwardson's tries and kicked another penalty to take New Zealand to a 28-12 lead.

"Some of our backs cut loose in the second half and we just started carving them up through the middle," Sopoaga said.

He enjoyed playing in the Brisbane heat and found the underfoot conditions a welcome change from wet conditions at home. The Australian players exhibited a familiar style of play, he said.

"They were really fit and they committed a lot of numbers at the breakdown, but it wasn't too different to what I've played before."

After a standout season in which Sopoaga helped the Hurricanes Schools team to their national title win over the Chiefs Schools in July, he will now switch his focus to upcoming exams.

The year 13 pupil, who led Wellington College's first XV to the CSW schools' title at Porirua Park in August, is yet to decide which premier club he will play for next year.

He will stay in Wellington and is weighing-up work and study options.

The New Zealand Schools touring squad had a strong Wellington presence.

Wellington College forward Reggie Goodes returned from injury to start at loosehead prop for New Zealand in Brisbane. TJ Perenara (Mana College), Solomona Sakalia and Ope Peleseuma (St Patrick's Silverstream) came off the bench.

- © Fairfax NZ News