Lots of spills - and far fewer thrills

Wellington 21 Otago 14

For the second time in three weeks, Ma'a Nonu came to Wellington's rescue, this time at Carisbrook.

His try nine minutes from the end got Wellington the win and put them close to a home quarter-final next week in the Air New Zealand Cup.

The calculations are that Canterbury must beat Auckland in Christchurch tonight, and with a bonus point, to finish ahead of Wellington in fourth.

Otago are certain to be on the road in the last-eight round. Nonu beat two tackles to crash over by the posts to secure the points in a largely ordinary contest. Those who believe the ills of the championship - sloppy passing, both forward and arriving behind the intended target, wonky handling, failure to retain possession, a general inability to play rugby with basic skills - are the sole domain of the bottom reaches should have watched the first half last night.

They would have had their eyes opened. Wellington were the bigger culprits, and they had the bulk of territory. Some of the skills were dreadful. A spot of wind coming across the ground may not have helped, but most experts agree wind has been around rugby since the game began. Failure to protect the pill was glaring.

Much of the second spell wasn't much better, willing but witless rugby all the rage where a spot of structure and organisation was needed.

Rodney So'oialo started by conceding a penalty, with which Nick Evans put Otago in front, then lost the ball in a tackle. His All Black chum Jerry Collins made some solid charges and was good value throughout, but referee Kelvin Deaker and Wellington weren't on the same wavelength.

By halftime, the penalty count was 9-3 in Otago's favour. Wellington captain Tana Umaga was frowning long before the break.

After Evans had expertly judged the wind to double Otago's lead, his captain, Josh Blackie nabbed a fine opportunist try. When Wellington botched a lineout, he slipped in to grab a loose ball and sprint 20m to the right corner.

Wellington woke up and enjoyed a good patch. So'oialo got over the Otago line but was held up; Nonu should have been awarded a try in the left corner, but Deaker didn't bother checking with his eyes in the stand, signalling a lineout instead.

But they were rewarded six minutes before the break, when fullback Shannon Paku did well to get out of a jam, Nonu burst up the empty middle of the park and when the ball reached Cory Jane he sprinted 40m to the right corner.

Umaga's fine try, doubling round to take Collins' pass, put Wellington ahead at the start of the second spell, but Evans tied things up.

Much as you could admire the intent, there's only so much harem-scarum you can take. Fortunately for Wellington they managed to put in a handful of pressure periods.

Wellington 21: C. Jane, T. Umaga, M. Nonu tries; J. Gopperth 3 con

Otago 14: J. Blackie try; N. Evans 3 pen.

HT: 11-7