Weepu calls for cool heads
Wellington captain Piri Weepu doesn't see any reason to panic heading into the play-offs after a couple of less than impressive performances in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Wellington captain Piri Weepu doesn't see any reason to panic heading into the play-offs after a couple of less than impressive performances in the Air New Zealand Cup.
The Lions head into Saturday's quarter-final against Taranaki following a close win over Tasman and a big loss to Otago.
The Lions have put that loss behind them and Weepu says there is no way they've gone off the boil from the scintillating form they showed earlier in the competition.
He says throwing 50-50 passes that don't stick and getting back to basics are the sorts of things they'll have to work on.
The Lions welcomed back All Black loosie Rodney So'oialo to training however prop John Schwalger limped out of training after rolling an existing ankle injury.
Wellington's opposition's quarter-final hopes were all but dead and buried until Northland kicked a last-minute penalty goal on Sunday to knock Auckland out of the Air New Zealand Cup finals and open the way for the Amber and Blacks.
But it's no easy road for Taranaki – a showdown with top qualifier Wellington.
The Wellington boys are sure to dub the match as a Hurricanes trial as the 'Naki faithful will know what has happened in these matches in recent years – the boys from the capital flog Taranaki to prove they deserve the bulk of the spots in the Hurricanes outfit for Super Rugby.
But this year it could be different.
The Taranaki players had resigned themselves last Saturday to watching the play-offs from their couches. Suddenly they've been given a lifeline and it's up to them to grab it.
This is a chance to redeem themselves for an inconsistent season and win back some of their fans.
Not that they will be short of support in Wellington. Taranaki showed against Waikato they can up the tempo and play attractive, mistake-free rugby – well, for 50 minutes at least. The last 30 weren't so hot and that's an area the players will look to improve on.
Taranaki have nothing to lose. Everyone is tipping Wellington to go all the way and claim the title.
But anything is possible – just look at the results from the weekend. You can't win a championship title if you don't make the play-offs. Auckland, Otago and other teams who missed out would vouch for that.