The Jono Gibbes factor that could change the Chiefs' finals fate

Final, Final, Final. Those words must sound like a cicada in the ears of the Chiefs as they finish preparing for the Super Rugby Pacific decider against the Hurricanes at Hrny Stadium in Wellington.

Four losses at the last hurdle since 2021 are a cruel outcome for a side that has won more matches than any team in the competition over the last six seasons.

Chiefs coach Jono Gibbes is no stranger to finals. In 2006, the eight-Test All Black locked the scrum in Waikato’s epic 37-31 NPC final win against Wellington in Hamilton.

In a box office contest featuring 29 All Blacks across both squads, Chiefs assistant coach David Hill kicked 17 points for Waikato while Hurricanes assistant Cory Jane started on the left wing for Wellington. Ma’a Nonu scored two tries for the Lions and is still playing.

Since turning to coaching in 2008, Gibbes has featured in seven senior finals.

Between 2008 and 2014, he coached the forwards at Irish powerhouse Leinster alongside future Wallabies heads Michael Cheika and Joe Schmidt. In that span, Leinster won 140 of 179 games, including the European Rugby Champions Cup finals of 2008 against Leicester 19-16, 2011 against Northampton 33-22 and 2012 against Ulster 42-14.

He moved to France in 2014 and helped Clermont to 68 wins in 106 games. In 2015, Clermont were beaten in both the Champions Cup (24-18 by Toulon) and Top 14 (12-6 by Stade Français) finals. In 2017, they won their second Top 14 title, beating Toulon 22-16 with 17 points from French international Morgan Parra. They were beaten 28-17 by England’s Saracens in the Champions Cup climax.

Points Flow Chart

Chiefs win +37

Time in lead

70

Mins in lead

0

88%

% Of Game In Lead

0%

64%

Possession Last 10 min

36%

7

Points Last 10 min

0

It’s a vast final resume. Gibbes has a message for restless Chiefs fans.

“Every final has a similar sentiment. You work hard to put yourself in that position. You want to enjoy it. You also know the starting line is just an opportunity. Nothing’s guaranteed. It has to be earned,” he said.

“Probably the key lesson is emotion and how it works for or against you. This group is focused. They know what it takes to earn the right to contest the final. They know what they’re after.

“In common with the teams I’ve won finals with, this Chiefs group have overcame a bit of adversity. They have a real ambition and a shared goal.”

Gibbes identified the 2011 Champions Cup final as his most memorable triumph. In that game, Leinster rallied from 22-6 down to stun the Northampton Saints. Johnny Sexton scored 28 points.

Chiefs skipper Luke Jacobson was conspicuously absent from the captain’s press conference. He was feeling under the weather, but not seriously enough to have been ruled out of the game. Lock Tupou Vaa’i was a picture of steely focus, not speaking until asked, 10 minutes into the combined affair featuring Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw and All Blacks Du’Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett.

“I actually just enjoyed sitting here listening,” retorted Vaa’i.

“I guess it’s two big forward packs just going out to battle each other.”

The Hurricanes have won 118 of 166 games at Hnry Stadium, including their last ten in a row. The Chiefs have won a third of their 24 visits since 2001, including a memorable 30-19 win in the 2024 semi-final against the Hurricanes, who were the top qualifiers. Vaa’i played the entire 80 minutes. Wallace Sititi was the Man of the Match. The 2024 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year will miss the final after a sickening concussion suffered in the 46-24 quarter-final win over the Reds in Hamilton.

“That was a long time ago, but a good game. Wallace is an X-factor player, so he’s a loss. He was running fast (yesterday), from what I heard. He’s recovering well for the coming months,” Vaa’i said.

Can the Hurricanes recover from their April 18 extra-time loss to the Chiefs? Kirifi, in his 106th Super Rugby appearance, believes the hosts can.

“You’re digging into the archives there. That game feels like a long time ago. What did we learn? A game often comes down to little moments. The Chiefs are very good at staying in the fight and putting pressure on when it counts.”