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The Super Rugby final matchup AJ Lam thinks will get the crowd 'roaring'

Wallace Sititi with the ball in hand for the Chiefs. Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

The Super Rugby Pacific final will feature blockbusting matchups across the park, with a combined total of 16 All Blacks named in the starting XVs for the Blues and Chiefs in their respective semi-final teams.

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Various All Blacks will likely be lining up across from one another, with Rieko Ioane and Anton Lienert-Brown set to square off in the midfield, Emoni Narawa and Caleb Clarke most likely locking horns on the wing and captains Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali’i expected to both don the respective No. 7 jerseys.

But there was no denying the Chiefs’ standout performer in the semi-final was a man without any All Blacks caps to his name; 21-year-old Wallace Sititi.

Enjoying a breakout season in 2024, Sititi was a powerful force in the No. 8 jersey once again in the dramatic semi-final win over the Hurricanes, contributing 16 carries and 13 tackles while providing impact with every touch. The 21-year-old was involved with the Blues previously, representing the club in the 2022 U20 Super Rugby season.

In the final, he’ll look to line up against perhaps the competition’s form No. 8 in Hoskins Sotutu. It’s a matchup that even has Sotutu’s Blues teammate AJ Lam excited.

“Wallace is in good form, I think he’s doing really well to be honest, especially for a young kid,” Lam told RugbyPass at Blues training ahead of the final.

“Hoskins is in there trying to prove a point as well, so I think it’ll be a huge battle between them both. It’ll go back and forth which will be good. I think it’ll be really good for the crowd as well, it should get them roaring.

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“I wish them both the best but we’ll just see who comes out on top.”

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Sotutu, having been dropped from not just the All Blacks but All Blacks XV in 2023, has had a resurgent, career-best season to begin 2024, equalling the Blues’ single-season record for tries scored.

Lam says while sometimes the Blues look to fuel the fire in certain players, it’s not necessarily the recipe for success in the final.

“Sometimes we do try and rile up the boys, try to get them fizzed up. But, it’s dependent on the player and how they rile up.

“We do give a little bit of a nudge here and there, but not too much. We don’t want to get them off track too much.”

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A sold-out crowd has been confirmed at Eden Park for the final, and the Blues couldn’t be happier to be back home for the big dance.

“We’re pretty excited to come back to Auckland, I think all the boys are excited to play in front of family and friends. It will probably give us an extra boost.

“That in itself, we just don’t want the moment to get in front of us and what our end goal is.”

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Comments

6 Comments
C
Chesterfield 290 days ago

An All-Black No.8 trial for what may realistically be the reserve No.8 spot if Ardie doesn’t move back to 7.

S
Simon 290 days ago

From what I’ve seen this year, Super Rugby is getting closer to sevens than a XV rugby. There is no doubting some of the skills on display but there is little structure to games and teams don’t seem to be well coached in the fundamentals of the game. The longer Super Rugby keeps going like this, the longer NZ and Australia will slip down as Test nations and are unlikely to be anywhere near contenders for future World Cups.

M
MattJH 290 days ago

Tutu Vs Titi. Can’t wait!

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fl 35 minutes ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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J
JW 4 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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