Wellington at full strength
Wellington welcome back one All Black but are denied another as the Air New Zealand Cup favourites prepare to play Taranaki in their quarter-final in Wellington on Saturday.
Wellington welcome back one All Black but are denied another as the Air New Zealand Cup favourites prepare to play Taranaki in their quarter-final in Wellington on Saturday.
Rodney So'oialo has been named on the bench for the first time this season, his inclusion mirroring that of Richie McCaw's for Friday's quarter-final between Canterbury and Tasman.
The All Blacks number eight's availability is timely given that Victor Vito has been ruled out with a knee injury.
However, prop Neemia Tialata has not made the matchday 22 after reporting a swollen knee following last weekend's surprise 21-36 loss to Otago.
On a positive note for Wellington coach Jamie Joseph, 2006 All Blacks prop John Schwalger will start despite rolling an ankle at Carisbrook.
In other key changes from the side who surrendered Wellington's unbeaten record, full-back Cory Jane and the competition's leading try-scorer Hosea Gear are predictably restored to the back three after being rested last week.
Tamati Ellison returns to the midfield while Piri Weepu is also back after sitting out the trip south and will start at fly-half in favour of Daniel Fitzpatrick.
Ma'a Nonu, who scored after coming off the reserves bench last week, starts at inside centre in another switch that sees Tane Tu'ipulotu drop to the bench.
Jacob Ellison comes into the squad as the reserve prop, enabling tighthead Anthony Perenise, who was summoned back from his loan spell at Hawke's Bay, to return to Napier and start against Waikato in the final quarter-final on Sunday.
Ellison has not played since dislocating an elbow on August 15 against Counties Manukau.
Wellington remain the competition favourites but appear to have lost some momentum since lifting the Ranfurly Shield against Auckland on September 20.
Their first defence was a 26-20 win over Tasman before lowly Otago upset what was admittedly an under-strength side last Saturday.