Wellington will head into the ITM Cup Premiership play-offs as the No.1 seeds after claiming a once-sided victory from their top-of-the-table match against Auckland at Westpac Stadium. The Lions have now won all of their nine matches this season, and they cannot be knocked off top spot during the final round.

Wellington put plenty of heat on the Auckland set-piece, while Ardie Savea produced an outstanding performance as he scored one of the hosts' four tries. The match also featured the return of All Blacks winger Cory Jane eight months after he suffered a knee injury during the Hurricanes' pre-season, but the 43-Test winger, who played off the bench at the start of the second half, was largely a spectator as play didn't go his way.

Wellington and Auckland traded penalties before the Lions, up 9-6, blew the contest open with two tries in the second quarter. Savea snared a turnover in his own half and Shaun Treeby showed good speed to scamper 50 metres to score, then the Lions gained just reward after turned down a shot at another penalty goal just ahead of half-time. They opted instead for a lineout, and the decision paid dividends as they drove Api Naikatini over for a try that took them out to a 21-6 lead.

Savea touched down in the 48th minute when he pounced on a loose ball, before the Lions took advantage of being a man up to get their bonus-point try. With Melani Nanai in the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle, Wellington kept the ball alive for Motu Matu'u to score nine minutes from full-time.

The visitors had the last say, with Nathan Vella getting a consolation try. Auckland's defeat means defending champions Canterbury can climb above them to second on the ladder when they host Counties Manukau on Sunday.