KEY POINTS:
Should Wellington beat Auckland in tonight's Ranfurly Shield challenge it will be a bitter-sweet moment for both Wellington coach Jamie Joseph and his father Jim.
Jim Joseph is in Blenheim Hospital in the final stages of a battle with lung cancer, and is hanging on in the hope of seeing his son's team lift the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 26 years.
Jim Joseph played for Marlborough in 1973 when the side famously upset Canterbury.
His health has declined steeply in the past month and the former Marlborough and Maori All Black prop, who played more than 250 first-class matches, will be on oxygen in Blenheim Hospital as Wellington takes on Auckland.
Jamie Joseph, who played for Otago, New Zealand Maori and the All Blacks, has been in four failed shield challenges.
The Wellington coach has been flying back to Blenheim most nights to see his father.
Winning the shield with Wellington would be "special," he said.
- NZPA
