Top-of-the-table Wellington have become the first team to secure a home NPC semifinal with a 29-14 victory over Counties Manukau at Sky Stadium.
Boosted by the inclusion of All Blacks Asofa Aumua, TJ Perenara and Billy Proctor in their starting line-up, and aided by a yellow card to Counties hooker Zuriel Togiatama in the 20th minute, the home side were off to an ideal start, with three tries putting them 19-0 ahead after half an hour.
The Steelers pulled back a try before halftime and closed within 10 points with 20 minutes remaining, but their heroic efforts backfired, when a turnover in the Wellington half sparked a counterattack that culminated in a match-clinching try to replacement Kyle Preston.
Wellington also had the services of All Black Ruben Love off the bench, while international halfback Cam Roigard logged another 63 minutes in the No.9 jersey and scored a try for Counties, as he continued his comeback from injury.
Perenara played the full 80 minutes and also scored in his farewell performance, before leaving for the All Blacks' northern tour and then a three-year contract with Japanese club Black Rams Tokyo.
"It's special," he said. "To come out and play for the Lions was something I really wanted to do.
"I enjoy playing the game of rugby, it's a special game and given me a lot through my life, so any opportunity I get to play, I want to play.
"This is my last game in New Zealand — I probably won't play here again — so when they floated the idea of playing, I took it with both hands.
"We defended really well. I think that opening passage of 20-21 phases we defended, it set a standard for us."
Wellington now await the lowest-ranked winners of the other quarterfinals.
Wellington 29 (Higgins, Kirifi, Proctor, Perenara & Preston tries; Garden-Bachop 2 conversions) Counties Manukau 14 (Brash & Roigard tries; Alatimu & Hohepa conversions)
Remaining NPC quarterfinals...
Saturday, October 12
2.05pm Bay of Plenty v Hawke's Bay
7.05pm Taranaki v Waikato
Sunday, October 13
2.05pm Tasman v Canterbury
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