Lions can expect bruising battle against Wellington, says Tito

TARANAKI captain Paul Tito has warned the Lions to expect another bruising battle from his Super 12 buddies in the Wellington team next Wednesday.

The Hurricanes lock took the Taranaki fight to the tourists in New Plymouth last night, leaving coaches Ian McGeechan, Gareth Jenkins and Mike Ford to mull over a ferocious forwards battle. Now Tito expects 2004 NPC finalists Wellington to do the same when the Lions reach the New Zealand capital in a week’s time.

While Wellington, also known as the Lions, will not be at full strength with All Blacks such as Tana Umaga, Ma’a Nonu, Jerry Collins and Conrad Smith on Test duty against Fiji this weekend, there is still plenty of firepower at their disposal with another clutch of Tito’s Hurricanes team-mates ready to be unleashed.