At a glance
No matter what happens from here, the Hurricanes have done OK in 2018.
To emerge from the toughest Super Rugby conference in second place, which would have meant second overall in a proper competition, was a good achievement. Sanzaar might only bill tonight’s clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch as a semifinal, but we all know this is a contest between the competition’s two best teams.
The Crusaders have the personnel, and playoff pedigree, to make them unbackable favourites in this match and losing to them would be a disappointment for the Hurricanes but not a failure. That’s not an excuse to be inept or insipid at AMI Stadium, but the facts are that the Crusaders never lose in these situations.
‘‘The word I’ve heard is this is going to be our final this week, because we’ve got to play our best footy otherwise we’re not coming back next week,’’ Hurricanes captain Brad Shields said yesterday.
There’s three scenarios at play here.
First, the Hurricanes lose, come back to Wellington and spend a couple of days saying their goodbyes to Shields, Julian Savea, Blade Thomson, Michael Fatialofa, Ihaia West and coach Chris Boyd.
Then there’s the Johannesburg option. The Hurricanes have packed their bags for an early international flight out of Christchurch tomorrow morning, in case they beat the Crusaders and the Lions get past the Waratahs at Ellis Park.
The last, and least likely outcome, is that both the Hurricanes and Waratahs win and a trip to Sydney beckons on Thursday.
The Waratahs are good enough to beat the Lions, but the theory is that will be unlikely if the Hurricanes upset the Crusaders. In that instance, the Lions will know that beating the Waratahs gets them a home final.
They’re likely to find that prospect much more inspiring than the thought of going to Christchurch to lose to the Crusaders.
But there’ll only be one outcome in play if the Hurricanes arrive at AMI Stadium without the required intent.
‘‘We’ve got some quality individuals in our forward pack and we just need to believe we can go down there and do a good job and front up with that mentality of being physical and dominant,’’ said Shields.
‘‘You’ve got to go in with the mentality that you want to dominate, otherwise she could be a long night at the office.’’
The Hurricanes will also have to be smart. They were naive and inaccurate, when these teams met in Christchurch in May, playing too expansively for both the conditions, and the part of the field they were in, making soft skill-errors along the way.
David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock (capt), Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Andrew Makalio, Tim Perry, Michael Alaalatoa, Luke Romano, Pete Samu, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Braydon Ennor.
Nehe Milner-skudder, Julian Savea, Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Gareth Evans, Brad Shields (c), Sam Lousi, Michael Fatialofa, Jeff To’omaga-allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith. Reserves: James O’reilly, Chris Eves, Ben May, Vaea Fifita, Ardie Savea/reed Prinsep, Jamie Booth, Ihaia West, Wes Goosen. Jaco Peyper (SA).
7.35pm, tonight
The final score of 24-13 didn’t do justice to the Crusaders’ dominance that night.
‘‘We obviously got a bit of a hit on the nose the last time we played them, in regard to the way we played. But we’ve come a long way and learned a lot of lessons,’’ Shields said.
‘‘Momentum and territory are massive and possession – we’d love to have the ball – but playing in the right areas of the field [and] putting them under pressure is just as good.’’
The Crusaders are past masters at pinning teams in their half and backing their defence to force errors
Crusaders:
Hurricanes:
Referee: Kickoff: