Canny Otago blow away sad, listless Wellington

Otago 28 Wellington 10

"Frustrating" was how skipper Tana Umaga described Wellington's NPC title defence that ended with a damp squelch at the Wellington Cake Tin.

He backed it up by saying there were too many missed opportunities and that the players had to become more consistent if Wellington were to enjoy sustained success.

Such comments suggest that under Umaga's captaincy the side might get closer to realising their potential next year after a disappointing effort in the Air New Zealand-sponsored competition this year.

They finished sixth and Saturday night's loss to Otago was a display of everything that is wrong with Wellington rugby.

While Otago played superb wet weather rugby, with first five-eighth Tony Brown plugging the corners, Wellington tried to run from everywhere. In part, they had to if they were going to score four tries and keep their faint playoff hopes alive, but such tactics were folly.

The tactics were also against the coach's instructions - but ignoring the game plan is a Wellington habit.

It is an area of his leadership that Umaga will need to work on, but as an inspirational figure he is second to none and he showed his class against Otago.

What Wellington need is for Umaga's team mates to emulate his passion and standard of play.

Jonah Lomu showed those characteristics as he dealt with a barrage of kicks in behind him. Such a tactic usually exposes Lomu but he ran the ball back powerfully.

Coach Dave Rennie felt there were good signs for the future, with talented players coming through from the academy set up three years ago.

"What we have to do is ingrain in those young guys that they should expect to win, but that it takes hard work," he said.

There was little hard work on Saturday night as too many of Wellington's players showed they felt their season was already over. The skill level was poor, the lineout a shambles and the tactics stupid as Otago out-thought and outdrilled their lethargic opponents.

Otago led 15-0 at halftime but Wellington narrowed the gap to eight with a penalty and try to fullback Christian Cullen, who otherwise had a forgettable night.

But they were never really in the hunt and Otago sealed the win and a place in the semifinals with a try to flanker Sam Harding, who ran off a break by Wellington-bound second five-eighth Pita Alatini.

The performance by Wellington was a sad way to farewell veterans Jason O'Halloran, Inoke Afeaki and Filo Tiatia, who are all heading to Japan to finish their careers.

- NZPA