KEY POINTS:
Wellington survived a desperate Canterbury fightback to progress to their second Air NZ Cup rugby decider with an emotionally fraught 26-21 victory in Christchurch tonight.
Wellington's stickability on AMI Stadium as the home side belatedly found some form in the final quarter of what initially resembled a one-sided encounter gave last year's beaten finalists a chance to make amends at either Eden Park or on home turf next Saturday night.
They will meet the winners of tomorrow's other semifinal, between Auckland and Hawke's Bay.
Wellington will carry the momentum of an eight-match winning streak - a run that started after they were upended 41-23 on their last visit to Christchurch in round four of the competition back in August - into next Saturday's final
Since then both sides have headed in opposite directions and although Canterbury's only loss was the concession of the Ranfurly Shield to Auckland a fortnight ago, they have been in decline since lifting the Log o' Wood in Hamilton six long weeks ago.
Justifiably trailing 23-6 at halftime, Canterbury seemed on course for an ignominious close to their campaign - and a muted farewell for Europe-bound trio Johnny Leo'o, Kevin Senio and Rico Gear.
However, tries to Richie McCaw's faithful provincial understudy Leo'o and prop Campbell Johnstone set up a grandstand finish that appeared highly improbable after Canterbury's insipid opening 40 minutes.
Flanker Leo'o's 67th minute parting gift after Issac Ross batted down a Stephen Brett cross kick signalled the resurgence, while a rare Johnstone five-pointer raised the prospect of extra time had Brett nailed a relatively handy conversion.
The kick drifted wide leaving Canterbury requiring at least a try to prolong the contest and despite laying siege to the Wellington line a turn over in the 82nd minute finally enabled the visitors to relax.
Earlier a two-try burst by Tane Tu'ipulotu late in the first spell appeared to guarantee Wellington's place in the final.
His double strike in the 33rd and 35th minutes finally earned Wellington some tangible reward for a dominant display based on their superior control and the unerring boot of Jimmy Gopperth.
Centre Tu'ipulotu initially profited from an injudicious offload from Canterbury captain Corey Flynn to race 25-metres to the line but made his own luck for his second when he beat Brett and Tim Bateman before momentum carried him to the chalk in the forlorn grasp of Michael Paterson.
Gopperth's flawless first-half goalkicking - five from five - guaranteed Wellington bounced to the sheds with a 23-6 advantage, a just return for their territorial domination.
There was little indication of a Canterbury resurgence after the break, particularly after a bemused Paterson retreated to the sinbin after a touch judge spotted an apparent punch after he dropped a pass cold.
The decision was one of several curious calls from the match officials but like the All Blacks in Cardiff, Canterbury were also the architects of their own demise.
Virtually camped in their own half for the opening period, Canterbury made little impression and succeeded only in aggravating Southland referee Keith Brown who penalised the home side 7-2.
Their bid for a first final since 2004 was also undone by a debilitating unforced error rate which included 14 missed tackles in the first half.
Canterbury duly tightened their defensive alignment and redressed imbalances in territory and possession but Wellington, confined to a 45-metre penalty by Gopperth for their second half endeavours, had enough points in the bank to avoid an agonising loss.
Wellington lock Bernie Upton encapsulated the relief at the final whistle.
"It's my first win against Canterbury in about five years - it was an outstanding effort.
"We were fizzing in the first half and we showed a lot of character to hold on to that lead," he said.
Canterbury captain Flynn was left to lament the concession off too many penalties and sloppy defence.
"It's something that's been hindering us in the last couple of weeks - those one-off tackles. With the gamebreakers the Wellington boys have got, you just can't do that."
Despite a grim first half, Flynn was hopeful the team could regroup.
"We went into halftime and all I basically said to the boys was not to stop playing. I'm very proud the way they came back in the second half and we really had a crack at them."
NZPA
