Wellington 41 Waikato 27
KEY POINTS:
There were a number of admirable qualities on display in the clash between the third and fourth in Hamilton last night. Defence wasn't one of them.
If a comedy of errors is your thing, this game was a laugh a minute. There was plenty of attacking magic scattered amongst the slapstick, although many of the game's seven tries seemed to owe as much to good fortune as good planning and execution.
Certainly there was no need for either team to storm the barricades to breach the opposing line. A slight jink and half a sidestep were usually enough.
Waikato's first line of defence was the most conspicuous by its absence, with Ma'a Nonu carving through at will out wide and Piri Weepu finding huge holes close to the ruck.
William Ripia felt the full force of Nonu in full flight when he was left resembling roadkill after a futile attempted tackle midway through the half.
Ripia's defensive struggles were the only blot on his first half copybook. The late call-up for the injured Stephen Donald contributed all of Waikato's points through a couple of early penalty goals and a converted try five minutes before the break.
That score had pulled Waikato level as Wellington had just a single close range try to flanker Api Naikatini and a brace of Jimmy Gopperth penalties to show for their early dominance.
Waikato wing Roy Kinikinilau was nonetheless instrumental in keeping the Lions at bay as he pulled off try-saving tackles on Nonu and Tamati Ellison.
Wellington took a lead to the break from messy play. Nonu was the welcome recipient of a wild Soseni Anesi pass. For once Kinikinilau was committed and Nonu simply streaked away.
A Gopperth penalty stretched the Wellington lead before Nonu demonstrated the other side of his game with a poor attempted tackle on Dwayne Sweeney as the Waikato centre danced his way to the line.
If Wellington's defence was feeble, Waikato's was simply non-existent as Cory Jane picked up a loose ball and scooted between props Nathan White and Craig West for an instant Wellington riposte.
Kinikinilau ensured a tight finish with a try nine minutes from time but Nonu had the last say, setting up Jane's second to secure Wellington's bonus-point victory.
Wellington 41 (C. Jane 2, A. Naikatini, M. Nonu tries; J. Gopperth 5 pen, 2 con, T. Ellison con)
Waikato 27 (W. Ripia, D. Sweeney, R. Kinikinilau tries; Ripia 2 pen, 3 con). HT: 20-13.
