KEY POINTS:
For much of the domestic season Wellington have been head-and-shoulders above the rest of the competition.
But on Saturday their title tilt came perilously close to being cut off at the knees by a plucky Taranaki side before a Tamati Ellison try with five minutes to spare secured a home semifinal against Southland.
Thomas Waldrom's stoppage-time try blew the scoreline out to a flattering 50-30 but there was enough frailty about Wellington to suggest their right to inherit Auckland's title is no longer pre-ordained.
The Lions' ability to score points has never been in doubt but there must be growing questions about their tendency to concede them after Taranaki at times shredded their defensive line with ease.
With wing Hosea Gear once again in imperious form, Wellington always looked to have the firepower to blast their way out of trouble but Southland will head to the Cake Tin on Friday night looking to expose the hint of a soft underbelly when the teams meet in the first semifinal.
Ma'a Nonu's presence has done little to detract from Wellington's revived flakiness but it was his cut-out pass that sent fullback Cory Jane over for their opener. Taranaki replied almost immediately through second five-eighths Jayden Hayward and Willie Ripia added a conversion and a penalty to put the visitors ahead.
Jane restored Wellington's lead when he crossed after linking with halfback Albie Matthewson and Gear and Ross Filipo combined to send Nonu over.
Gear followed up a clever kick from Piri Weepu to score his 12th try of the season but Taranaki hit back through Paul Perez.
Filipo scored again for Wellington but his try was cancelled out by Perez's second and Wellington needed Ellison's late effort to secure their passage to the semifinals.
Southland produced a form-reversal of their own on Saturday, wing Pehi Te Whare inspiring a 45-11 rout of Bay of Plenty in Mt Maunganui.
Te Whare scored two tries and first five-eighths Blair Stewart collected a try and kicked a penalty for a personal haul of 20 points.
Down 0-5 after four minutes to a Nigel Hunt try, Southland turned the game around through a couple of brilliant touches from Te Whare and won comfortably to book the province's first top-flight semifinal.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA
