Defence decides the title
The Great Entertainers are now the Great Defenders. And Super Rugby champions, for the very first time, because of it.
It’s taken 21 years, six semifinal appearances, and now three in the Big Dance, but the Hurricanes have finally figured out the recipe to win this Super Rugby Championship. And they were dancing long into the night on Courtenay Place because of it.
It’s a rugby cliche, but the line ‘‘defence wins championships’’ keeps getting trotted out for a reason. It’s flaming well true.
The Canes’ defence this season, and especially at the back end of their magnificent charge to this first ever title, has been absolutely brilliant. And that’s not something I ever contemplated writing about this Wellington-based franchise.
They have now, with their epic 20-3 victory over the Lions in the final, gone through three postseason matches, and around 300 minutes, without conceding a try. That line-speed, in particular, has caused serious problems for anyone they’ve faced over this fabulous last month or so they’ve unfolded.
Take a bow John Plumtree, the administer of their defence. Take a bow Chris Boyd for empowering your sidekick to coach the defensive organisation this very good team needed to finally be great.
The Lions never had an answer on a wintry night where they, more often than not, had a yellow wall upon them pretty much the instant they received the ball. They are good, but they were not good enough to deal with that sort of pressure in unfamiliar conditions.
If the Canes needed further inspiration they got it from two men in particular, courageous hooker Dane Coles and prince of wings Cory Jane. And Beauden Barrett, of course. You just can’t keep him out of the game these days.
The in-form Barrett and Ardie Savea showed glimpses of their class, and Barrett’s contribution, in particular, was vital on a difficult night. The No 10’s tactical game was first-rate and his thief-in-the-night pounce for the championship-clinching second try was huge, even though it was no sort of night for the X-factor types to strut their stuff too vividly.
But how about Coles? The All Black hooker, just two weeks after picking up that awful rib cartilage injury, sucked up the pain to start, play the first 43 minutes, and then return, through winces of agony, to log another five minutes as a blood-bin replacement.
Coles didn’t necessarily change anything with his game, but his presence would have inspired his men. And every one of them threw themselves into this contest with the ferocity and commitment and skill that was required.
Coles set the tone, and men like Brad Shields, 100-game Victor Vito, Michael Fatialofa and Loni Uhila followed suit. It was magnificent.
Jane produced a special sort of first 40, too, to remind everyone that Israel Dagg isn’t the only All Black reject running round with a point to prove.
The 33-year-old, who touched the heights in a 53-test All Black career, should have scored with his first opportunity when he took a pinpoint Beauden Barrett crosskick and provided the requisite footwork to beat the remaining defender, only for the eagle-eyed TMO to spot an earlier knock-on.
But, a quarter of an hour later, he wasn’t about to be denied a second time when some fabulous Hurricanes line-speed set up a brilliant reaction slips-like take of a panic kick.
He sprinted 10m for the first of two tries that delivered this wonderful, breakthrough victory.