Tialata still doubtful for Cup final

Wellington rugby coach John Plumtree says he's no wiser, and still may not be in the next couple of days, regarding his prop Neemia Tialata's injury.

Tialata limped off with a calf muscle injury at Eden Park late in their 30-15 Air New Zealand Cup semifinal win over Auckland on Friday night.

Though the star front rower of the Cup playoffs shed the crutches he had used since sustaining the injury, and was cycling today while his teammates resumed training, Plumtree said a decision would be made on Thursday or Friday.

The injury has clouded both his chances of playing in the Cup final against Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday and inclusion in the 32-man All Blacks squad to be named on Sunday for the end-of-the-year tour.

Though Plumtree said Tialata was still to have a scan to clarify whether he had torn calf muscles as suspected, All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen said Wellington had reported the prop had a muscle tear and would not play in the final.

'That's a bit premature at this stage, It's a day by day thing. He's better today than he was yesterday" Plumtree said today.

Tialata, 24, has been in good form recently and capped that with a try each against Canterbury and Auckland in the quarterfinal and semifinal.

His ability to play on both sides of the scrum makes him a near certainty for the All Blacks tour.

"We'll just have to monitor him through the week," Plumtree said.

Both Wellington and Waikato, who beat Otago 44-15 in their semifinal, will train tomorrow and name their line-ups on Thursday.

- NZPA