KEY POINTS:
There are no prizes for guessing where Wellington will target Southland in their provincial quarter-final on Friday night.
Wellington will want to use the full width of the field in the capital because they have caused opponents all sorts of problems all season on the extreme flanks.
In
wingers Shannon Paku and Ma'a Nonu, Wellington possess twin threats of widely contrasting styles, the consummate professional Paku proving himself a more than able finisher on the left and the combustible Nonu adjusting well to his latest temporary home on the right.
Normally a fullback and occasional wing, Paku was shifted to the left flank by coach Aussie McLean at the start of the campaign because he wanted to employ the impressive Cory Jane at the back. He responded much as McLean expected and completed the regular season equal second on the try-scoring charts with six touchdowns, one behind Auckland fullback Brent Ward.
Nonu found his path to a preferred midfield role blocked by captain Tamati Ellison at second five-eighth and was used at centre in the earlier rounds until McLean opted for the superior distribution skills of Tane Tu'ipulotu.
The 18-test All Black, whose career has been held back due to his utility tag, had no choice but to make the right wing his own, even if Nonu is not entirely happy about it.
"I can't get into the midfield, so I am on the wing. If I didn't know how to play wing I think I would be on the bench," he said yesterday.
But he has adjusted well, and appreciates the licence to roam that McLean has issued him.
He has scored three tries in the past four matches, but more impressively Nonu has produced a high work rate for his coach, injecting himself all over the field, throwing himself at the opposition close off the set pieces, giving them go-forward ball and setting a target for his forwards.
Nonu said he could not recall previously playing in the one position for four consecutive matches.
"Aussie told me to try to be an option everywhere. It's just a case of playing really. People talk about the roaming role but anyone can do that in any team. The main thing is to get involved.
"What's the point of staying stuck out on the wing and waiting for the ball to come to you? You're not going to get dirty."
Wellington head into the elimination match after qualifying in third place, behind Auckland and Canterbury, following eight wins from 10 round robin games.
Losses away to Hawke's Bay and Canterbury saw their young forward pack exposed, while a stuttering 16-13 win over a poor Bay of Plenty side in the last round left them with plenty to work on this week.
Last year's beaten finalists will be buoyed by the probable return of halfback Piri Weepu, who has been sidelined for a fortnight by a knee injury.
He ran freely enough at training with his left knee heavily strapped and should be a confirmed starter when McLean names his team today.
- NZPA
