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Friday night will see a new chapter written in one of Super Rugby’s greatest rivalries as the Hurricanes and Chiefs jostle for pole position in the New Zealand conference.
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There is no doubt that the Hurricanes and Chiefs will leave it all on the field when they put their respective five-game winning streaks on the line, and if history is anything to go by, we could be in for another tight contest.
The last seven times the Super Rugby powerhouses have met, an average margin of just 6.5 points has separated them. Three of the seven fixtures, dating back to July 2014, have been decided by three points or less.
Breaking down the last ten meetings for the Hurricanes and Chiefs is like splitting hairs, with the Chiefs edging the Hurricanes six to four in the win column, winning three times on the road and three times at home.
However, it is the Hurricanes who have fronted when it matters most, dispatching the Chiefs 25-9 in the 2016 semi-final – their only playoff meeting this decade – en route to winning their maiden Super Rugby title.
But it’s not just the numbers that makes these sides tough to separate. It’s the personnel.
New Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper knows the opposing side well, as he spent seven years as head coach of the Hurricanes from 2003 to 2010, leading the side to a grand final appearance in 2006.
After Cooper’s departure from the Hurricanes he returned to his provincial roots in Taranaki, where he coached the Mitre 10 Cup side for a further seven years.
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And it’s in Taranaki where the rivalry takes another turn. The Chiefs and Hurricanes have been so close of late, even their regional catchment area has been tough to split – the Hurricanes recently apologised after using the phrase “Taranaki Land War” to promote the upcoming fixture.
The Chiefs inherited Cooper’s Taranaki in 2013, after they had been aligned with the Hurricanes since Super Rugby’s inception nearly two decades ago, and they have reaped the benefits.
Cooper’s starting side for Friday’s clash features six (potentially seven) Taranaki players in Angus Ta’avao, Lachlan Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Johnny Fa’auli, Sean Wainui and Charlie Ngatai, with Marty McKenzie bracketed at flyhalf.
How a combination of these players and Cooper’s experience with the side impacts the outcome of the game remains to be seen, but fans can be assured that there will be no sympathy upon Cooper’s Cake Tin return.
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CHIEFS
1. Aidan Ross, 2. Nathan Harris, 3. Angus Ta’avao, 4. Tyler Ardron/Michael Allardice, 5. Brodie Retallick, 6. Lachlan Boshier, 7. Sam Cane (C), 8. Taleni Seu, 9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10. Damian McKenzie/Marty McKenzie, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Johnny Fa’auli, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sean Wainui, 15. Charlie Ngatai (C).
Reserves: 16. Liam Polwart, 17. Karl Tu’unukuafe, 18. Jeff Thwaites, 19. Luke Jacobson, 20. Liam Messam, 21. Jonathan Taumateine, 22. Tiaan Falcon/Marty McKenzie, 23. Alex Nankivell.
HURRICANES
1. Toby Smith, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 4. Vaea Fifita, 5. Sam Lousi, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Sam Henwood, 8. Gareth Evans, 9. Jamie Booth, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Matt Proctor, 14. Vince Aso, 15. Jordie Barrett.
Reserves: 16. James O’Reilly, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Ben May, 19. Michael Fatialofa, 20. Reed Prinsep, 21. Richard Judd, 22. Ihaia West, 23. Wes Goosen.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
7 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments