Wellington braced for Mooloo rush

Wellington have flicked open another page of their tactics book to prepare for Waikato's swarming defence in the Air New Zealand Cup rugby final tomorrow night.

Wellington captain Tana Umaga and coach John Plumtree both acknowledge Waikato have based their excellent season on a pressure-based game at the breakdown and on a rushing defence.

Plumtree said the methods used against the free-wheeling Auckland in last week's 30-15 semifinal win have had to be redressed for the final at Waikato Stadium.

"We've changed a few things. We've got a strategy in place and it's quite a relief for a coach that it's all over," he said.

"All the work's done and the players understand. Now the exciting bit is about to happen."

Top of the list has been combatting the aggressive team defence that Waikato have used to ruffle virtually all their opponents.

Otago had no answer in last week's 15-44 semifinal loss at Hamilton.

"You can't ignore it because it's been so effective for them, we're trying to find ways around it," Umaga told NZPA.

"It's being cool under pressure because that's what they try and do, is put you under pressure to make bad decisions.

"We have to make sure we handle that and get our guys going forward. When you've got a team going backwards then they've got to get back and come forward."

Umaga was on the reserve bench during most of last month's disappointing 21-37 loss to Waikato in Hamilton.

On reflection, he didn't think it was Waikato's defence that threw them.

Rather it was their own defensive lapses that let them down, with young Waikato centre Richard Kahui in particular slicing through at will.

"We can gain confidence from our last two games, our defence has been good," Umaga said of the impressive knockout defeats of Canterbury and Auckland.

"Kahui's had a great season, he's a young guy who's made the most of his opportunities. I'm really impressed with him.

"But then you've got (Waikato three quarters) Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sosene Anesi and Mils Muliaina. Do you look after the 21-year-old or do you look after the 25 or 26-year-olds out a bit wider?

"You look after everybody as best you can."

Plumtree said his team hadn't even referred this week to his team's humbling at Waikato Stadium four weeks ago, believing it was among their worst performances this season.

"We didn't play well in that game, the players all know it," he said.

"We know how we need to attack Waikato and we believe we've got the people who can do it."

- NZPA