Filipo hopes his good fortunes continue

Wellington lock Ross Filipo is hoping his rugby good fortunes follow him around for a few more days.

The rugged lock was part of the successful Crusaders and New Zealand Maori teams this year and is hoping luck will bring him one more rugby success this year -- the Air New Zealand Cup on Saturday night.

Wellington and Waikato square off in the inaugural Cup final and Filipo is keeping his fingers crossed that his luck follows him to Hamilton as well.

"I've enjoyed my rugby best this year even though I missed out on a few weekends because of injury," he said.

"Luck? I can say that I've been pretty lucky this season -- just hope it lasts to the end of the year."

Filipo won the Super 14 title with the Crusaders and the Churchill Cup with NZ Maori.

He has brought the much-needed physical presence into the Wellington pack who were unable to match their flashy backs in past seasons.

Wellington showed those days are over, as they beat the highly talented Auckland side and the usually organised and clinical Canterbury team in successive weekends.

"A lot of people started noticing us now and they all say the best two teams are in the final -- that's a tick for us," Filipo said.

Wellington and the Hurricanes always knew how to throw the ball around and score thrilling tries but their lineouts were almost a liability.

Against Auckland, however, their dominance was such that they scored a try following an Auckland throw.

"I think it's the attitude and the environment -- everybody is enjoying each other's company and having fun and I think that's breeding success."

Filipo, whose no-nonsense approach and thundering tackles have helped lift the Wellington pack generally, led a beard-growing competition in the team over the last few weeks.

"It's a bit of fun and it helps maintain a good spirit in the team," he said.

Prop Joe McDonnell, one of the nine players who have let their whiskers grow, said they hadn't lost a game since the internal competition started which has now been turned into a bet among the players for some of the sponsor's (beer) product.

"It's become a bit of an omen, we don't want to jinx ourselves now," McDonnell told the Dominion Post this week.

Another player who has worked quietly like Filipo to help build the Wellington pack is openside flanker Ben Herring.

"I just think everyone has lifted. There was always (for the forwards) a challenge to match the talented backs -- Wellington always had great backs -- and I think they (forwards) are taking on that challenge," Herring said.

"Winning definitely helps with the confidence but we're a bit more balanced as a team now, and there's great spirit in the side."

While Filipo is relishing the chance to meet highly regarded former All Black Keith Robinson on the field, openside flanker Herring is looking forward to a similar clash with another former All Black -- Marty Holah.

"He's an excellent player to play against," Herring said.

Wellington coach John Plumtree, when asked whether Herring or Chris Masoe would start against Holah and Waikato, said both had different strengths.

"Ben's a different style of player (to Masoe) -- not as big and perhaps not as bruising -- but's he's really accurate with his fetching skills.

"He's been outstanding in that area all year."

Plumtree said Herring was a similar to Holah, which indicated the former Southland and Highlanders flanker had the inside when the team is named tomorrow.

- NZPA