Hurricanes and Lions set for explosive Super Rugby final clash

Above: Three strikes and you’re out. Willis Halaholo, Beauden Barrett and Victor Vito cross the whitewash for the Hurricanes against the Chiefs in their Super Rugby semi-final.

The Hurricanes will greet the red-hot Lions with a sea of yellow when they meet in Wellington this year’s Super Rugby final next Saturday night.

Super Rugby has no business continuing this deep into the year, and further undermining the community game, which in our opinion its decline is well and truly at the point of no turning back and professional rugby is squarely the cause. In lieu of a ‘global season’ not getting off the ground sooner, Super Rugby needs to be starting a month earlier in mid-January and be over by early June and the number of regular season games reduced to about a dozen. 

Nevertheless, the eight provincial unions that comprise the Hurricanes region will be eager their team can go all the way in what will be their third final and their second in as many years. Whoever lifts the trophy at Westpac Stadium soon after 9.30pm next Saturday will be crowned champions for the first time.

In this weekend’s semi-finals, both teams earned emphatic wins over their opposition, the Hurricanes quelling the Chiefs 25-9 in Wellington and the Lions racing to a 42-30 win over last year’s champions the Highlanders at Ellis Park.

The Hurricanes scored three great tries against the Chiefs, and produced a massive defensive display to win their first ever semi-final against New Zealand opposition.

First five Beauden Barrett was a catalyst in this win, scoring a popular intercept try after chipping a kick through and bursting into open space that created a try for second five-eighth Willis Halaholo. No. 8 Victor Vito scored their third try from a 5-metre scrum.

The Hurricanes’ defensive screen was big all match, with openside flanker Ardie Savea and lock Michael Fatialofa our picks of the pack. The Hurricanes backs did a great job containing their opposites.

The Lions continued to play with confidence and panache, roaring to a big lead over the Highlanders, who to their credit hit back with three of the game’s last four tries.

The Lions, with a young pack, hit the Highlanders hard in the set-piece exchanges and then attacked with flair. First five-eighth Elton Jantjies having a big game. The Lions led 17-6 at halftime and pulled clear after that.

Scores:

Lions 42 (Elton Jantjies, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Jaco Kriel, Lourens Erasmus tries; Jantjies 4 cons, 3 pens) Highlanders 30 (Matt Faddes, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo, Joe Wheeler tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 pens, 2 cons)Halftime: 17-6

Hurricanes 25 (Willis Halaholo, Beauden Barrett, Victor Vito tries, Barrett 2 con, 2 pen) Chiefs 9 (Damian McKenzie 3 pen). HT: 15-6.

Super Rugby Final:

• Saturday 6 August at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Kick-off 7.35pm.