Tialata makes steps but still under cloud

Neemia Tialata

Giant prop Neemia Tialata packed down in the Wellington scrum today but remains a doubtful starter for Saturday's Air New Zealand Cup rugby final against Waikato.

Coach John Plumtree named the same team who downed Auckland 30-15 in last weekend's semifinal for the final at Hamilton, with Tialata bracketed at tighthead prop with John Schwalger.

There were some positive signs that the All Blacks bookend had recovered from his calf injury as he scrummaged at a windswept training session here today.

However, Plumtree said Tialata's muscle tear was still being closely monitored and that there was definite provision for the 118kg forward being forced out. A decision was likely to be made tomorrow by medical staff.

"We're not a one-man side. Losing Nee would be a blow but just like anything you just move on," Plumtree said.

"We're not going to play him if he's not fit. John Schwalger's not a bad player and (loosehead prop) Joe McDonnell's probably playing the best rugby of his life."

Tialata's recovery from a treadmill session and today's scrummaging would be pivotal.

"He came through it all right. He's a pretty big man and there's a lot of weight on those calves.

"There's a slight tear there but it's in the best possible place if you're going to tear a calf."

Schwalger played the bulk of the Hurricanes' Super 14 campaign, including the final, although that was on the loosehead side where he is more accustomed.

Plumtree was happy to persist with Ben Herring as his starting openside flanker and keep All Black Chris Masoe on the reserve bench, even though Masoe had another week under his belt since recovering from the ankle injury suffered in late August.

"Ben's been in such great form all season. His battle with Marty Holah will be an interesting one," Plumtree said of Herring, who may well shift from Wellington next year.

"It could be an emotional moment for him.

"Ben's been a handful all year and Chris just hasn't had enough rugby."

While a number of Wellington players are weighing up their future, one person who definitely won't be back next year is Plumtree himself.

He leaves for Durban next week to begin an assistant coaching stint with South African Super 14 franchise the Sharks.

However, he wanted to be back in New Zealand before long, quite possibly at another union.

"I hope it's not my last game in New Zealand," he said.

"My plan was always to go to Durban and spend some time with the province I played most of my rugby for (Natal).

"I'm still quite young in coaching terms and I'd like to come back and coach another province later on in my career."

Another jetting out next week is Wellington captain Tana Umaga, who will take up a lucrative short-term contract with French second division club Toulon.

The temporary release until January will see Umaga earn a reputed 350,000 euros a month before he returns for the Hurricanes' Super 14 rugby campaign.

- NZPA