Aisle be Back: the final

So it ends with a whimper, not a bang. Face-palming into the high veldt.

There are plenty of theories about why - personally I'm sticking with with two, the altitude factor and that yellow card.

The Canes' certainly shot their bolt early on, and as you kind of felt at halftime, that Lions' try late in the half was a potential killer.
And when they scored after the half, you could just feel the momentum  switch.

As I mentioned last week, momentum is one key thing you can't give to South African teams, and especially at altitude.

However, the Canes might have held on if it hadn't been for the  manifestly ridiculous yellow card on Beaudy. That however is the extent I'll be whinging. As the team itself acknowledged, they needed to take the ref out of the equation, and squandering that 22-3 lead was never going to be smart.

Interestingly, the idea that there was a reffing conspiracy did not emerge last year, when we had three home games.

In the quarters against the Sharks, we had Glen Jackson, who was then a touch judge while Angus Gardner reffed the semi against the Chiefs. And Jackson reffed the final, against the Lions with two Aussie assistants. Neither the Sharks nor the Lions raised refereeing as an issue.

Fair play to suggest the best system is to have neutral refs, but the idea that the Canes were stiffed by the all South African crew at the weekend just makes us look pathetic.

Now we'll see if the Crusaders can pull off Mission Impossible. They are better equipped to take on the Lions up front, and should play a smarter kicking game. But they've done a power of tackling recently, and the question may come down to lungs once more.

+++++++

It's hard not to think the Canes are sometimes too blessed with talent. There's a certain nonchalance that the firepower will get them out of trouble, but it doesn't always work. And I remain baffled by the failure to always take the three.

Certainly they never got a ruthless edge consistently going this year - losing three of the four big inter-conference games and therefore never challenging for the top spot.

Like all squads they had injury problems, but there's no doubt that Dane Coles' absence left a big hole experience-wise at both Super and Test level this year.

On the plus side, it was brilliant to see Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett break through so quickly to the All Blacks.

The forwards are combative but they need to be another step up to win the big ones regularly. There's plenty to like about Sam Louisi, Ardie  is simply outstanding, and an injury-free Michael Fatialofa will be a great asset. And then we'll see what the off-season recruiting brings.

Three seasons, three times to the semis or finals, and one title. Yes, it probably veers on the glass half empty, which is good, because now there's a culture of high expectation, not of hope.

As a Canes fan knows all too well, there's a long, long, long stretch where this side had no real success - so don't forget to enjoy the good times.

And these remain good times.

Lifelong All Blacks supporter Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. Last year his faith in them was rewarded when they won the title – they've missed out in 2017, but he'll be back!