Southland coach has warning for the capital lads

Southland coach Phil Young has a word of warning for Wellington ahead of this afternoon's clash - his team are good enough to repeat last season's upset victory.

Southland pulled off one of the shocks of last year when they beat Wellington 13-10 in the capital.

Young sees no reason why his men in maroon can't bowl Wellington again in their second-round clash in Invercargill.

"We've got self-belief in the team and we want to perform for each other and not be overawed by being on the big stage," Young said. "If we do all our basics right - our scrums, our lineouts and stick to the plan - then I don't see any reason why we can't win."

Southland go into the game with some confidence, having beaten Wellington in their past two encounters.

Their second was a 25-15 pre-season win in July, but not too much could be read into that because both teams were below full strength.

Privately, there may be a feeling within the Southland camp that their forward pack, which went so well against Waikato last weekend, could give Wellington a real hurry-up.

Young has been around the coaching scene too long to come out and say that, but he admitted his pack would not be worried by Wellington's impressive lineout display against Canterbury or their significant front-row changes.

Wellington struggled in the scrums in their win over Canterbury and have reacted by starting Tim Fairbrother at tighthead prop, shifting John Pale to the loosehead and Kas Lealamanua to the bench.

Scrums could be a key, especially if the weather packs in as is forecast and heavy rain turns the game into a forward struggle.

Southland's scrum impressed against Waikato and should be stronger today with the return from injury of loosehead prop Keith Cameron, which allows Clarke Dermody to switch back to the tighthead.

Wellington coach Dave Rennie knows that if Wellington are to return with four points for a second straight win they will have nullify hard-charging No 8 Paul Miller, dominate the tight exchanges and unleash their potent backline, which welcomes back All Blacks Tana Umaga, Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu.

It is out wide where Wellington have a definite advantage in ability, experience and pace.

- NZPA