Are Wellington ITM Cup Champions-Elect?

It's been a very very very long time since a Wellington side won a national title in New Zealand in the big two sports. And in 2013 again, Wellington have shown form to suggest that they could emerge as national champions.

They remain unbeaten going into the last round of games and look set to gain home advantage throughout the playoffs by finishing number 1 on the table having fended off the challenges from fellow Premiership teams, Waikato, Canterbury, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Counties Manukau. They go to Hawkes Bay - who are looking to gain home advantage themselves for the playoffs - on Thursday.  

Wellington have always had the talent, e.g. big name Super Rugby players like Cory Jane, Dane Coles, Conrad Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Shaun Treeby, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Charlie Ngatai, TJ Perenara, etc. but they've never had the mentality or top two inches like Canterbury or Auckland to win a national title.

They have won the log of wood before back in 2009 but a national title has eluded them despite making the Final so many times, i.e. 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Is Wellington too hippie to be good at sport?

Wellington could often be considered as New Zealand sport's most underperforming city given the amount of people who live there and the amount of teams they have. The Wellington Saints are the one shining light amongst a lot of poor results in the rugby and cricket.

The Hurricanes had their bright spell in the last decade but have faded somewhat and the Firebirds have lit brightly but then been extinguished quickly.

Is Wellington's more hippie nature a deterrent to sporting success in middle earth? Perhaps and one wonders if Wellington's ITM Cup win this year would change things much. Yes, club rugby is still strong but that doesn't mean the Canes will be Super Rugby champions.

Oh well, at least, the capital perhaps has a winning rugby team at last.