At Sky Stadium, Wellington: Wellington 56 (Ruben Love (2), Kyle Preston, Billy Proctor, Isi Saumaki, DuPlessis Kirifi, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara tries; Aidan Morgan 2 con, 3 pen, Sam Clarke 2 con) Counties Manukau 27 (Ioane Moananu, Peniasi Malimali, Liam Daniela, Etene Nanai-Seturo tries; Riley Hohepa 2 con, pen). HT: 32-13
Yellow card: Sam Tuifua (Counties Manukau)
Defending champions Wellington are flying under new head coach Tamati Ellison.
The Lions brushed aside Counties Manukau in their latest Ranfurly Shield defence to remain unbeaten this season with six wins out of six.
They now sit top of the ladder and Ellison has clearly continued the good work of former coach Leo Crowley, with Wellington again looking like the team to beat this year.
Proven Super Rugby performers Ruben Love, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor, Xavier Numia and DuPlessis Kirifi all impressed, while New Zealand under-20s prop Siale Lauaki was industrious.
After a tight opening quarter, Wellington scored two tries in quick succession to fullback Love and halfback Kyle Preston.
Preston’s try, in particular, showed how lethal Wellington can be with ball in hand, with Umaga-Jensen and Losi Filipo linking well before Preston showed some real pace to finish the long-range break.
Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Wellington fullback Ruben Love scores a first-half try against Counties Manukau.
Counties hooker Ioane Moananu – who impressed in his cameo appearances for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific – showed great strength to keep his side on the contest with a five-pointer, although his inaccurate lineout work proved costly.
Wellington, by contrast, found their collective groove as the game progressed and the in-form Umaga-Jensen and Proctor linked superbly in the midfield.
Tries to Proctor and big winger Isi Saumaki followed, with Wellington surging into a 32-13 lead by halftime.
Counties came out with renewed spirit in the second spell, and winger Peniasi Malimali was a threat with ball in hand all evening.
Discarded All Blacks No 8 Hoskins Sotutu had a quiet game, but fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo showed flashes of his outstanding running game.
However, Wellington finished the game off when replacement midfielder Riley Higgins grabbed an intercept with Counties hot on attack.
Higgins didn’t have the pace to run the length of the field, but Kirifi eventually powered over for Wellington’s fifth try.
Halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara and Love completed the rout, with the fullback showing how lethal he can be if he gets a bit of room to showcase his pace and footwork.
Wellington will face Waikato in Hamilton next Friday, but on this evidence it will take a good side to stop them.
