Sopoaga gives Highlanders an injury scare

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph says that the Otago based Super Rugby side had a little scare ahead of their Semifinal when Lima Sopoaga limped off in training.

The Highlanders number 10 has been in top form for the Semi-finalists this season and his loss would have been a big blow for the New Zealand side.

The Highlanders suffered their own scare at training on Thursday when five-eighth Lima Sopoaga limped off apparently favouring his knee but Joseph said the playmaker was good to go.

“He’s fine. He just twisted his knee – it’s a wee bit of a one off,” Joseph told AAP in Sydney.

“It was a wee bit of a scare for everybody, but he’s fine and he’s going to train today.”

All Black fullback Ben Smith stopped short of calling the Waratahs game plan predictable but admitted that they are prepared for a busy match in defensive terms.

“You never know what they might do going into a playoff game but we’re pretty sure they’ll back themselves and their running game,” Smith told NZ Newswire.

“The way they play, they get a lot of momentum off their big runners and they have got a huge pack. “

“Stopping them there will be a big one this weekend and, obviously, they’ve got some skilful backs off the back of that.”