Auckland's reign as NPC champions came to and end at Eden Park this evening as Wellington scored five tries in their 48-23 triumph.

This was a stunning outcome. Before the match many observers had anticipated that the result would depend on how well the visitors could cope with the Auckland forward pack, to what extent they could curb their indiscipline and bring their mighty backs into the game.Jonah Lomu scored a try after just two minutes, Wellington had two players sin-binned in the first half, and yet their magnificent forward effort gave them the momentum against a flat Auckland side which was overwhelmed in the second half.

The Wellington scrum was superb. In the first half they won two tight heads and Englishman Kevin Yates was doing so well in his contest with Craig Dowd that the veteran All Black was replaced by Nick White before half time.In the loose, the back row of Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Kupu Vanisi was in irresistible form, always first to the ball, always quick to deny Auckland attempts to break the gain line and instrumental in giving their tight forwards a target and a platform upon which to build their domination.

Auckland were in strangely lacklustre form, denied space and time by a side confident that their form was returning after an indifferent NPC so far.The expected domination of their forwards never materialised, Wellington kicked long at restarts to deny Robin Brooke the ball, the scrum was under early pressure from which it never recovered and without the comfort of receiving the ball going forward they looked devoid of ideas in the backs.To make matters worse , their midfield defence looked porous as late centre replacement Tana Umaga, moving from the wing to cover the injured Alama Ieremia, stamped his authority on the game.

Jonah Lomu had a generally quiet game, but a sensational start, strolling over in the left hand corner after just two minutes after the Auckland defence was exposed attempting a midfield intercept.The excellent Collins took advantage, drew the defence before delivering the scoring pass.Wellington were never to relinquish the lead.Carlos Spencer scored the first of his three first half penalties before replacement wing Brad Fleming scored a highly controversial try after eight minutes.

Taking the ball at pace in midfield after Wellington had gained possession at a lineout, Fleming burst through with a try looking a certainty. Doug Howlett got to him and prevented him grounding the ball cleanly. Fleming's reactions indicated quite clearly that he felt that he had missed a golden opportunity only for the video ref, asked for his opinion by Steve Walsh, to inexplicably award the try.

Fortune seemed to have swung back Auckland's way when scrum half Jason Spice was sin-binned for tackling his opposite number whilst still in mid-air.But Christian Cullen chose this moment to score his first-ever try against Auckland, Umaga maiking thr incision, Lomu handing on the scoring pass.

From a backline move that went wrong, on the half hour, Howlett took advantage of a bouncing ball causing confusion in the Wellington defence to pounce and burst through beneath the Wellington posts.Spencer's conversion narrowed the gap to six points but Afeaki's sin-binning just before half-time for a high challenge on Andrew Blowers again put needless pressure on a side seemingly in control at all phases of the game.

Wellington went into the break 22-16 ahead but then totally dominated the second half. Cullen quickly scored his second try in spectacular fashion, bursting onto Spice's tapped penalty just outside his 22 and racing away unopposed.Holwell kicked the conversion and added three further penalties before we were treated to the rare spectacle of Cullen dropping a long range goal.Auckland were by now well behind and well beaten , a Mika try in the right corner just reward for a period of desperate pressure, before Umaga sealed the victory with a try beneath the posts. The excellent Holwell had started it with a dash through the demoralised Auckland defence and his conversion compounded the holders' misery.

So Wellington march on the final, where they are expected to meet Canterbury, no doubt feeling they have gained adequate compensation for their defeat in last year's final to Auckland. The 1999 champions will be very disappointed to have chosen this occasion to produce their poorest from of the season. Knocked out of their stride by Wellington's explosive start, they could never regain the initiative and looked a well beaten side long before the 80 minutes were up.

Scorers :

Auckland : 23

Tries : Howlett, Mika. Conversions : Spencer . Penalties : Spencer (3)

Wellington : 48

Tries : Cullen (2), Lomu, Fleming, Umaga
Conversions : Holwell (4) Penalties : Holwell (4) Dropped goal : Cullen