Halfback Weepu the full package

Wellington 31 Taranaki 17


Piri Weepu's class made all the difference in this Hurricanes trial.

The All Black halfback created all three Wellington tries and kicked three penalties into a strong second-half wind to save Wellington some considerable embarrassment after they made a a blistering start in the icy temperatures.

There was plenty of physical grunt, plenty of endeavour but the conditions made it a trying evening for too much enterprise away from the forward clashes. Those were compelling - from the battles between Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe to the lineout leaping of Jason Eaton, the combative Andrew Hore and the impact of Neemia Tialata. It would have given Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper plenty to fill his selection notebook with.

Jerry Collins and his cousin Tana Umaga both scored inside the opening five minutes after a weighted grubber kick from Weepu and then a smart cut out pass from the halfback to his international captain.

And when Jimmy Gopperth kicked a penalty, Wellington were clicking along at better than a point a minute. Just as quickly their scoring evaporated.

Taranaki, playing into a tough wind, got the ball, played the shortside, committed the visiting pack to a mountain of tackling and took control. They kicked for lineouts from several penalties and from the second, new prop Hamish Mitchell capped a rumbling 15m drive to the line.

When the ball was spilled in the Taranaki 22, second five-eighths Lifeimi Mafi made a brilliant weaving run upfield and offloaded for Sailosi Tagicakibau to scoot in for a second try. It was a remarkable reversal. Taranaki were only 15-10 adrift coming into the break but Weepu repeated his grubber magic for Ma'a Nonu to score and Gopperth convert.

The second half was all attrition with Weepu's kicking just allowing Wellington to keep their distance.

Wellington 31
(J. Collins, T. Umaga, M. Nonu, tries; J. Gopperth 2 con, pen, P. Weepu 3 pen)
Taranaki 17
(H. Mitchell, S. Tagicakibau, L. Mafi, tries; T. Feather con)
HT: 22-10.