Photo: PHOTOSPORT NZ
Hurricanes v Chiefs
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 3 May
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Two teams that not only have an intriguing history against one another, but also both come off two very good wins, go at it tonight at Sky Stadium. The Chiefs have the Crusaders breathing down their neck as they sit atop the table, however their 56-22 win over the Force last weekend without Damian McKenzie underlined their championship credentials.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes put on their best performance of the season with a 35-29 win over the Brumbies in Canberra. It stands as the only win so far by a New Zealand team on Australian soil this season.
Cortez Ratima of the Chiefs celebrates a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final - Hurricanes v Chiefs at Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand on 15 June, 2024. Photo: Photosport / Masanori Udagawa
Team lists
Hurricanes: 1. Tevita Mafileo, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brayden Iose, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Riley Higgins, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Ngatungane Punivai, 15. Callum Harkin
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Zach Gallagher, 20. Brad Shields (cc), 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Riley Hohepa, 23. Bailyn Sullivan
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Kaylum Boshier, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Wallace Sititi, 22. Xavier Roe, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Hurricanes selections
Billy Proctor of the Hurricanes dives over to score. Photo: Masanori Udagawa
No massive changes to Clark Laidlaw's side, as Ruben Love continues as a makeshift first five. His job certainly seems to be easier now with Riley Higgins and Billy Proctor outside him, as well as Kini Naholo's eye-catching form on the wing. The Canes still possess an outstanding front row rotation, with the luxury of being able to save Xavier Numia and Pasilio Tosi for later in the game.
Chiefs selections
Chiefs forward Wallace Sititi in action during their Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Hurricanes. Photo: photosport
McKenzie is still out injured, so Josh Jacomb starts again at 10. Cortez Ratima is inside him thanks to Clayton McMillan's Crusader-like system of halfback management, with Ratima and Xavier Roe swapping in and out on a weekly basis. Anton Lienert-Brown is out but Wallace Sititi's return continues with another bench role, expect that to change in the near future though.
Key stats
Kini Naholo. Photo: John Cowpland/Actionpress
The Hurricanes have won their last two regular season games against the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific, after losing five in a row against them prior to that run.
The Chiefs have won eight of their last 10 Super Rugby Pacific games including their last two in a row each by a margin of more than 30 points. Only twice in competition history has any team won three straight games by 30 points or more (Lions, Rd 13-15 in 2017 and Blues, Rd 6-9 in 2024).
Kini Naholo has scored six tries across his last five Super Rugby Pacific games, including two in his most recent appearance.
What they're saying
"We respect where they are at. They are top of the table for a reason and have been in a number of finals, so their time is now by the looks of it." - Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.
"We've got a strong Hurricanes team waiting for us. They've made a shift during that performance against the Brumbies…we'll prepare accordingly and be ready when it's time to be ready." - Chiefs loose forward Wallace Sititi.
The last time they met
Chiefs 30 - 19 Hurricanes (Super Rugby Pacific 2024 semi-final)
The game that probably cemented Sititi's rise to prominence as a superstar, the Chiefs broke the top of the table Hurricanes' hearts in crushing fashion in this semi-final. Almost everything went right for them as they shot out to a 17-0 lead early, built off the back of Sititi's pace and skill. The Chiefs then tackled their way to victory and a place in the final.
What's going to happen
A few weeks ago you'd think the Chiefs would be winning this easily, but the return of Higgins and Proctor to the Hurricanes lineup has and will continue to make a real difference. This one may well come down to who can dominate the scrum and therefore field position, however if this comes down to goal kicking then the Chiefs have the definite advantage. The wild weather that's rocked Wellington has dissipated, but both teams will have a breeze to contend with.
