Hurricanes and Chiefs promise spectacular Super Rugby final
The irresistible force v the immovable object – the Super Rugby Pacific grand final between the Hurricanes and Chiefs in Wellington next Saturday will be a contest between two teams at the peak of their powers.
Few will dispute that the two most consistent sides in the competition deserve to face each other on the biggest stage.
The way the Hurricanes dismantled the Blues in the second half of their 52-21 semifinal victory last night was reminiscent of the way the Chiefs demolished the Crusaders in the first half of their 49-12 semifinal win the previous evening.
The Hurricanes scored six of their nine tries after the break. In Hamilton on Friday night the Chiefs scored six of their seven tries in the first half for a 42-5 halftime lead, which effectively ended the match as a contest.
Few saw the onslaught coming – not least the Crusaders who had won their previous four matches (albeit all under their new roof in Christchurch).
The Hurricanes will likely be favourites to pick up their first championship since 2016 due to home advantage and their sparkling attack led by irrepressible halfback Cam Roigard.
Their only concern may be a lineout which stuttered once hooker Asafo Aumua left the field.
The Chiefs’ set piece, meanwhile, was impeccable, and few teams have ever bullied the Crusaders’ scrum like they did at Waikato Stadium.
Their concern may be the fitness of in-form second-five Quinn Tupaea, who picked up an ankle injury. It will be the Chiefs’ fourth consecutive grand final appearance.
They have not won a title since 2013 and their fans may be secretly fearing another disappointment at the final hurdle but there is little doubt their coach Jonno Gibbes, outstanding in his first season in charge, will be stressing the fact that this group are on the brink of uncharted territory.
The Crusaders, missing injured fullback Will Jordan, were clearly off their game but they were the defending champions and if anything can instil confidence in a group it will be putting a record playoffs score on the men from Christchurch.
"We just missed a beat in the first half," their departing coach Rob Penney said in a triumph of understatement.
Likewise, the Blues, after a gritty first-half performance, were made to look ordinary by the Hurricanes after the break and their attack never operated with any fluency.
It brings an end to the reign of head coach Vern Cotter, who will coach the Reds next year. His replacement will be current Hurricanes and former All Blacks assistant Jason Holland.
Asked last night to reflect on his time at the Blues, Cotter, who led the franchise to a championship in 2024, his first year, said: “I don’t have much time to say it, but I loved it.
"I loved working with these boys. I loved every moment. I was born in Auckland, so it was nice to be able to coach a team that you’re born in,” Cotter said.
“So, it’s a real attachment right from the start, and really attached with these boys. Won a title, two semifinals, so we feel that you know we’ve been there and competed it.
“Tonight, obviously a little bit disappointing, but … I really, really enjoyed my time.”
‘It’ll go again. A new coach next year, he’ll bring in some new ideas, develop the game with the players he has and the players he’ll bring in.
“It’ll be good, it’s a proud club, and the players are very proud of the jersey and what they wear. And these last few weeks, probably they’ve hurt quite a bit, and I think they’ll take that through.”
Super Rugby Pacific grand final
Saturday, 7.05pm: Hurricanes v Chiefs, Wellington.