Wellington v Taranaki
Wellington will be without All Black wing Tana Umaga for tonight's match against Taranaki, but the consolation prize is considerable: they have Christian Cullen available.
Troubled by a groin injury, Umaga failed a fitness test, but his All Black team-mate Cullen passed and will play, bringing Wellington's "Fabulous Four" to three-quarters of their potential firepower.
Cullen joins Jonah Lomu and Alama Ieremia in the side, while Umaga will be kept for next Friday's classic against Auckland.
"Both Cullen and Umaga came through training okay," coach David Rennie said.
"Cully was able to run full out and was happy and Tana was close to it. But unless he's absolutely 100 per cent it's not worth it. The biggest thing with his injury is that if he can't change angles - a huge part of his game - then it's not worth risking him.
"But we're confident he'll be right for the Auckland match."
Brad Fleming will play on the right wing in Umaga's place, and Kevin Yates and Kupu Vanisi return to the side.
Taranaki retain Craig Taylor at first five-eighths and put Wellingtonian Lome Fa'atau on the bench because of the deal with Taranaki when Fa'atau was loaned - that he should not start against his home union.
Wellington Rugby Football Union chief executive officer David White confirmed that Fa'atau was not able to start against Taranaki.
"We've got an agreement in place. It's the case with all players the Wellington union loans."
- NZPA
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