Super slugfest looms in Hamilton
Never mind the mouth-watering individual match-ups, or battles to be won or lost at scrum and lineout time.
No, the folk attempting to talk up tomorrow’s top-of-the-table Super Rugby clash between the Chiefs and Hurricanes in Hamilton are all overlooking ‘‘the elephant in the room.’’
It’s not the nonsense around front row reserves that erupted when the teams met last year, nor the Hurricanes’ subsequent semifinal win over the Chiefs.
‘‘The elephant in the room for Friday night is it looks like it’s going to be wet from now until Friday, although the rain forecast for Friday is patchy,’’ Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd said.
‘‘I think that will dictate how much football both sides are prepared to play, so the game as I see it unfolded now could actually unfold quite differently depending on the weather. We’d like to continue with some good defensive pressure and continue with our attack, but it might not be possible.’’
Grit was never one of the great Hurricane traits. Sure they might score you a scintillating try or two, but they’d then concede three in terribly limp fashion.
That made the fact defence took them to last year’s title all the more remarkable.
After keeping the Crusaders out, during the second half of their last round-robin match, the Hurricanes then kept the Sharks and Chiefs try-less in their 41-0 and 25-9 quarter and semifinal wins. By the time the final against the Lions rolled round, the Hurricanes were so confident in their defence they were willing it to rain cats and dogs.
Fans might favour a dry night in Hamilton on Friday but – different campaign or not – last year’s experience has taught the Hurricanes that they can actually win when the going gets tough.
‘‘Every single game we don’t want to concede a try and I suspect that most teams that give themselves a bit of defensive credit would say exactly the same thing,’’ said Boyd.
‘‘We know it’s not realistic – the Sunwolves scored three tries against us which we were disappointed about – so we’re going to get tries scored against us. But every time we go out there and play to object is to not.’’
If the Chiefs hold a potential advantage, heading into Friday’s clash, it could be in the tight five where Kane Hames, Hika Elliot, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick and Dominic Bird have all been All Blacks.
The Hurricanes have made two changes in that area, from the teams that beat the Sunwolves and Rebels, with Loni Uhila to start at loosehead prop and Mark Abbott at lock.