Wellington to test Turbos' make-up

Given the disparities in population alone, Manawatu require a Herculean effort to overcome the Wellington juggernaut when the going gets serious.

That has been borne out by history – just two wins in national championship matches and the last of them was 18 years ago.

Close to 450,000 people inhabit greater Wellington while Manawatu has about a quarter of that, and Wellington also has the advantage of being a Super 14 base.

This season, with Manawatu wracked by injuries and wondering where their first win is coming from, coach Dave Rennie must know the odds are stacked again his Turbos beating his old team.

But then the same applied against Canterbury a month ago.

"Wellington have a huge amount of experience, including guys who have worn the black jersey," Rennie said. "It doesn't matter who they put on the field, they're going to be a strong side."

A week ago, All Black Aaron Cruden switched the Turbos' ignition against Hawke's Bay. He has trained with the Turbos all week but has had to be mothballed for the Sydney test, while Wellington's reserve All Black flanker, Victor Vito, gets to play tomorrow.

Fortunately, Manawatu's Isaac Thompson is fit again and poised for his first start in an NPC match since October 16 last year, with utility Junior Tomasi Cama out for a month with his broken cheekbone. Thompson will be the frontline goalkicker, leaving Craig Clare to focus on his No15 duties.

Harking back to last year's clash at the Wellington wind tunnel, the scenarios are similar. The TAB have again offered odds of six to one and Manawatu are again coming off a pre-season win over Wellington.

In 2009 Manawatu won the July hit-out by 38-19 and this year the Turbos won 35-29 at Porirua, when Thompson was at first-five. But pre-season bouts don't carry ITM Cup points.

The guts of Wellington's team will be back tomorrow, boosted by All Blacks Alby Mathewson, Rodney So'oialo and Vito. Out injured are hooker Dane Coles and All Blacks Hosea Gear (hamstring) and Neemia Tialata.

Wellington still have New Zealand under-20 flying truck Julian Savea, who will punch the Turbos' defence if it goes gun-shy out wide.

Wellington will field four All Blacks while the Turbos do not boast a single current Super 14 player.

For all that, Wellington have been hard to read at their home stadium, getting off to terrible starts and then rolling home or winning well away at Dunedin.

In a bureaucratic irony, prop David Te Moana is in Wellington's reserves as a loan player from Manawatu.

"They're missing a few, we're missing a few," Rennie said. "In this competition, anyone can beat anyone on any given day.

"Canterbury were there for the taking and so were Hawke's Bay. A lot of it is about self belief and the guys have been working hard."

- © Fairfax NZ News