KEY POINTS:
Wellington won't bring back their All Blacks for Saturday's final against Auckland.
Coach Aussie McLean confirmed he wouldn't be changing anything much from the previous weeks for their biggest match of the season.
"We'll see what's it's like tomorrow when the team reassemble, but I don't anticipate doing anything different to what we've been practising," McLean said yesterday.
His World Cup players, including loose forwards Jerry Collins and Rodney So'oialo, wouldn't be considered for the game as he would be sticking with those who have been putting in work this season for the province.
While the loose forward department was one area McLean had the option to shore up with players like Collins and So'oialo, his regulars, Thomas Waldrom for one, have been impressive in the past few games, including the 26-21 semifinal win over Canterbury in Christchurch.
"He's been playing well and performing for us all year," McLean said of No 8 Waldrom.
While praising the resilience of his team when Canterbury came back and threatened to take the game after Wellington had led 23-6 at halftime, McLean was also impressed with the way Auckland beat Hawke's Bay in the other semifinal.
"You can't ask for more. They were very accurate in those conditions, very impressive indeed."
He was much encouraged by their attitude in the semifinal.
"I'm really proud of the courage they showed in the last 15 minutes because they were out on their feet. I think the Canterbury boys were, too, but they just kept coming at us. That we were able to keep on defending and forcing errors was really fantastic.
McLean said his team had improved significantly from that which lost to Canterbury 23-41 in the round robin.
"But we've got one game to go still and that will be another mountain to climb."
- NZPA
