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The menace Isa Nacewa brings to the Auckland backline is one of the big areas Wellington will have to fight if they are to leave Eden Park on Saturday with the national rugby title.
No one in the Wellington team knows the mercurial Nacewa better than centre Tana Tu'ipulotu, who played alongside the Auckland first five-eighths for about three years in the Grammar Carlton Club.
"He's the ultimate rugby player. Nacewa can play from 10 to 15 and probably halfback as well, I'm sure," Tu'ipulotu said yesterday.
"He's an awesome talent and Auckland are pretty fortunate to have him. It's not just him alone though, there's Sam Tuitupou outside him so it's going to be a pretty hard day at the office. One small mistake can cost us five or seven points."
Tu'ipulotu, in the absence of All Black Conrad Smith, has been one of the finds of the season for Wellington coach Aussie McLean.
Ma'a Nonu was given first dibs at the 13 jersey after former All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga called time on his stellar career.
Tu'ipulotu got only limited game time coming off the reserves bench.
But halfway through the season as Wellington's backline failed to fire consistently McLean threw the Tonga-born midfielder into the mix for the match against Waikato.
Tu'ipulotu made such a good fist of it he's now a backline mainstay beside skipper Tamati Ellison in the midfield with Nonu on the wing, but given free rein to rove.
"I'm really enjoying playing outside Tamati."
He feels his best game to date was in last week's semifinal win over Canterbury when he scored two tries.
Backs coach Alama Ieremia has been working on a few moves this week and Tu'ipulotu says they will work well if he and his backline mates play their part.
- NZPA
