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Tupou Vaa’i addresses ‘the elephant in the room’ before Super Rugby decider
By Finn Morton
We’ve got to talk about “the elephant in the room” ahead of this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final between the Crusaders and Chiefs. After falling short in the last two deciders, the Chiefs are looking to right some wrongs by winning their first title 2013.
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The Chiefs were the best team throughout the round-robin, finishing in first place with 11 wins from 14 matches. They’ve beaten the Crusaders twice this season already, including a statement 35-19 win at Apollo Projects Stadium on May 10.
That same Christchurch venue will host the big dance on Saturday evening, as the Chiefs look to snap a streak of falling just short. The Chiefs have gone to the last two Grand Finals, losing them to the Crusaders and Blues, but they have another chance to take out the top prize.
Coach Clayton McMillan will leave the Chiefs after this decider after signing on with Irish side Munster, and one-Test All Black Shaun Stevenson will also depart – the end of a decorated career of more than 100 Chiefs matches.
While the Chiefs are potentially 80 minutes away from securing a fairytale finish for McMillan and Stevenson, it doesn’t get any tougher in Super Rugby than beating the Crusaders in Christchurch – with the home side unbeaten in 31 home playoff games.
“That’s been the elephant in the room and obviously we can’t go back and change the past but I guess we can do something about it this weekend,” Tupou Vaa’i said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts Extra when asked about the recent history of Grand Finals.
“I’m sure the boys are excited to go out there… we’re just so grateful that we’ve got another opportunity to be in another final. I know it’s not an easy task to be in finals the last three years. It’s definitely something.
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“You’ve just got to nail your moments,” he added. “We’ve obviously seen in that quarter-final against the Blues that we didn’t really nail those small moments… we’ve just got to nail our set-piece I guess and then obviously you’ve got to win the collision.
“It’s been a key area in the competition, if you win the collision, you win the game. We’ve just got to be dominant in that area.”
The Chiefs punched their ticket to the big dance with a 20-point win over the ACT Brumbies last weekend, but they won’t host the final, even though they finished first on the ladder. After falling to the Blues in the qualifying finals, the Chiefs progressed as the highest-ranked loser.
With that result, the Chiefs and Crusaders swapped places in playoff seedings, with the serial champions from Christchurch elevated to the number one spot. The Crusaders extended their flawless home playoff record to 31-0 by beating the Blues 21-14 last Friday.
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The stage is set for a clash between the two best teams in the competition, with many All Blacks and even a Wallaby – that being James O’Connor – expected to take part. Damian McKenize’s Chiefs against Will Jordan and David Havili from the Crusaders.
“They’ve definitely said that they pride themselves over their set-piece so we definitely know that we’re going to bring our A-game in there,” Vaa’i explained.
“Pretty much most teams are kicking the ball, they don’t really want to be playing in their own half so I guess it’s going to be a bit of a kicking game, I’m sure, but I’m sure there’ll be a bit of a running game as well.
“They’ve got dangerous players like Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, and then you’ve also got their skipper David Havili there. [He] likes to carry the ball hard.
“I know the Crusaders are real good at nailing their basics and doing it for 80-minutes so I guess we’ve just got to be up for it.”
