Gatland to replace Sopoaga?

The New Zealand Herald has reported that 22-year-old Bryn Gatland is set to compete for the Highlanders No.10 jersey next season when current Highlanders incumbent Lima Sopoaga departs for Wasps at the end of the season.

Gatland seems to have fallen down Tana Umaga’s pecking order recently with Stephen Perofeta the preferred starter while his chances of starting could get even tougher when Otere Black returns from a knee injury next season.

Gatland is on a full contract with the Blues after playing a bit-part in 2017, and earned a starting nod for the first four games of the season. However, veteran Daniel Kirkpatrick has since ousted Gatland as he has fallen off the team sheet in consecutive weeks.

The Highlanders currently have 23-year-old Fletcher Smith and 22-year-old Josh Ioane currently play behind Sopoaga, so Gatland will still be faced with some stiff competition once he moves.

When asked how Gatland fits in the Blues’ current plans, head coach Tana Umaga said: “He’s still in our thinking all the time. We’re having conversations. As you can tell, we’re trying to get some experience into our side at the moment. That’s part of it.

"It’s tough on our young men. When you talk about pressure … I’ve been through that before.

We’re talking about guys who probably haven’t been through that and we have to help them and support them,"