Wellington’s rejection of Jimmy Gopperth has been North Harbour’s gain … and very possibly that of the Blues, too. First-five has been a Wellington weakness all season and neither Ripia nor Weepu has proved the answer, either as a playmaker or, just as importantly, a goalkicker. The trouble is that coach Jamie Joseph is a forward with little understanding of the finer points of pivot play. And the absence of Gopperth is why Wellington will not win the Air NZ Cup this season. Goal kicks will be crucial but there’s no-one reliable to take them. Blame the blinkered Joseph when Canterbury and Dan Carter do the business yet again.