Otago 22
Wellington 35
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry is a rare emotion in rugby and it's a fair bet Jamie Joseph watched the end of this match, his last with Wellington before taking up with the Dunedin-based Highlanders, with mixed feelings.
Joseph is leaving an area of currently greater rugby depth and talent for one of lesser dimensions. Even though he is moving up in the coaching world, the issues facing the Highlanders in Super Rugby are well known.
It must be a little like leaving a secure senior management position in a smaller oil company to become CEO of BP.
The truth was that neither of these ITM Cup sides played particularly well. Wellington's farewell to their coach was marked by some errors and lapses of concentration. Otago, of course, form the basis of the Highlanders and will have given Joseph even more cause for pause.
Joseph felt the previous week's loss to Counties-Manukau was one of their worst displays in his tenure - so he'd have been less than human if he hadn't experienced a moment of tension about what he is doing.
Speaking of tension, Wellington would have felt some when they were down 5-0 just after kick-off. First five-eighths Fa'atonu Fili hoisted a speculative up-and-under, it went nowhere in particular and winger Julian Savea succeeded only in palming the ball to Otago second five Josh Tatupu.
A run, a feed to fullback Chris Small, his stab kick ahead and Tatupu easily won the race to the ball for a try which made it seem as though Otago's disappointing Shield challenge last week was behind them.
Wellington, however, had too much power, pace and drive in almost all areas, with only some stubborn first half defence and their own errors (some induced by the wet, slippery ball) holding them back.
Lock Jeremy Thrush scored one try as Wellington recycled the ball and out-manoeuvred their opposition and Savea - already tagged as a future All Black - made Alando Soakai look a bit silly as he cleverly dribbled his own kick to score.
Savea no doubt has the tools and is big enough to evoke the inevitable comparisons with Jonah Lomu. He may be an unpolished gem just yet - but his awareness of, and signal for, a kick, his catch and touchdown for his second try was as polished as you could get.
Before that, Wellington players like livewire hooker Dane Coles, hard-running flanker Faifili Levave (both played a hand in Thrush's try), Fili and Hosea Gear looked as if they would take control after the first quarter. Fili, after that uncertain start, kicked, goal-kicked and directed play coolly and efficiently.
There was a good tussle at prop between former All Blacks Kees Meeuws and Neemia Tialata, the latter possibly having the title 'former' firmly affixed these days because of the change in rule interpretations - meaning mobile props are favoured at All Black level.
But Joseph might have pondered the scenario of the rock and the hard place at halftime. Wellington could have - and should have - marched away with this game at 17-5 up but somehow the fuse spluttered and died.
Otago tried hard without ever looking like they would match Wellington.
Adam Thomson got through a power of work and Ben Smith showed his startling acceleration and judgement of a pass in the making of a try to Small to bring the score back to 17-12 at the break.
They swapped penalties in the second half before fullback Apoua Stewart's perfect cross-kick saw Savea in again after good work by flanker Scott Fugistaller. All Black halfback Alby Mathewson scored after a typical sniping run and the game was won on the hour, with a bonus point.
Wellington could have scored more but the errors and the defence held sway.
With the match lost, winger Fetu'u Vainokolo capped some Otago pressure with a good try.
That was the pattern - Wellington not quite doing enough to run away with the match; Otago not quite doing enough to save it.
And Joseph could have been forgiven for not knowing if he'd won or lost.
Otago 22 (J. Tatupu, C. Small, F. Vainikolo tries; G. Dickson 2 con, pen), Wellington 35 (J. Thrush, J. Savea 2, A. Mathewson tries; F. Fili 3 con, 3 pen). Halftime: 12-17.
