Super Rugby Final Preview

After 18 Rounds and then two weeks of play-off games, we reach the Super Rugby Final, with the two top teams on the overall log contesting what should be a momentous game.

Isn’t it fitting that despite the contrived manipulation of SANZAR’s conference system overriding a merit log, the final clash is between the two best-achieving teams of 2015?

The Hurricanes have won 10 of their last 11 home games, but the Highlanders have beaten the Hurricanes in each of their last four clashes in Wellington. The Hurricanes have beaten the Highlanders twice this year, in Dunedin in Round 6 and in Napier in Round 17. Each of these teams has played in one Super Rugby final, each in turn losing to the Crusaders.

The Hurricanes have most the most carries of any Super team this season, the Highlanders amongst the fewest. The Highlanders have kicked out of hand more than any team except one, while only two teams have kicked the ball fewer times than the Hurricanes.

But does any of this mean anything substantial going into the final?

We have two teams with wonderfully skilful backs and underrated packs, mostly unheralded as individual forwards but good at what they do, passionate and efficient. Each team has a meticulously planned, precisely organised, accurately executed game strategy. There are a host of potential individual match-winners on either side.

Though their runaway first place on the log after the full 18 rounds makes the Hurricanes the favourites, the Highlanders are very much in the picture as potential Super champions.

Key players:
In a final, the superstars in each team are most likely to have impact on the result of the game: For the Hurricanes, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, and Beauden Barrett; for the Highlanders, Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, and emerging superstar Waisake Naholo. Up front, the two number eights Nasi Manu and Victor Vito – and Hurricanes openside Ardie Savea, if he passes a late fitness test.

The big match-ups:
There are plenty of huge clashes: Wings Savea vs Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder vs Patrick Osborne, at outside centre Conrad Smith vs Fekitoa, at 9 Aaron Smith vs TJ Perenara, at 10 Barrett vs Lima Sopoaga. And up front, Manu vs Vito, Dane Coles vs Liam Coltman, and as scrummagers, Ben Franks vs Brendon Edwards.