Off the back of a blistering start, the Chiefs spoiled the party in Wellington, beating the Hurricanes and setting up a mouth-watering New Zealand derby against the Blues in the 2024 Super Rugby final.
After stunning tries from Samipeni Finau and Cortez Ratima, Chiefs scored two tries in six minutes and jumped out to a 17-0 lead after 15 minutes to secure a stunning 30-19 win at Sky Stadium on Saturday evening.
Peter Lakai put the Hurricanes back in the 20th minute, including a fumble by Josh Moorby on the way for a lateral touchdown that could have cut the margin to one point with 20 minutes left on the clock. Mistakes hurt the home team’s chances of winning. Finals held this year.
Damien McKenzie celebrates Chiefs’ Super Rugby semi-final win over the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium on June 15, 2024. (Photo credit: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Instead, the Blues, who were denied regular season top spot earlier this month after the Chiefs were denied a bonus point win by a late try in the final against Auckland, will host the final at Eden Park next Saturday evening.
“I’m really proud of the boys,” said skipper Luke Jacobson.
“We had a really good plan all week and we just came here and believed in it. We weren’t always right, but I’m really proud that we came here and executed.”
Former Highlanders pundit Joe Wheeler congratulated the contest and said victory would depend on Chiefs’ tenacity, failure and quality of defence.
“There was drama, everything,” he told Sky.
“I think that sums up the culture, character and attitude of this Chiefs team.
“That’s right. Sometimes they were sleeping, but they were coming just in time for the competition. If ever I saw a warning shot, it was tonight. “Their defensive effort was really good and relentless.”
However, the victory was lost when gunman Samisoni Taukei’aho was sent off in the 22nd minute with a calf injury.
The All Blacks limped off after dislodging a tackle from Lakai near his own line, leaving his hopes of playing in next week’s grand final at huge odds.
Chiefs may be without two matchday hookers, with Bradley Slater also picking up an injury late in the game despite trying to keep fighting.
Hurricanes’ Brett Cameron looks dejected after losing to the Chiefs in the semi-final at Sky Stadium in Wellington on June 15, 2024. (Photo credit: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
The Chiefs had many heroes, but none more so than 21-year-old rising tailback Wallace Sititi.
Number 8 made a decisive play by intercepting Brett Cameron’s short ball to center field and running 50 meters in the 61st minute of the first half.
Seconds later, the Chiefs completed their third attempt through Daniel Rona, halting the Hurricanes’ momentum.
Sititi was also at the right place and time when he stole possession with an Etene Nanai-Suturo chip kick and combined with Jacobson to send halfback Cortez Ratima through to score after six minutes.
“I don’t know if you’ve been watching all year, but he’s been doing pretty well since he came on,” added back row partner Jacobson. “He’s taken it to another level. He’s a special kid and has a tremendous future.”
Both sides scored three tries, but Chiefs’ playmaker Damien McKenzie was the difference, converting and converting three penalties to finish the evening with 15 points.
Hurricanes will look back and regret their inaccuracies.
Josh Moorby spilled the ball while attempting to score midway through the second half at Sky Stadium. (Photo credit: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
The home team gave up 22 turnovers to the Chiefs’ seven, especially in the final 20 minutes when the away team interfered with the home team’s possession of the ball.
Hurricanes skipper Brad Shields lamented the Hurricanes’ slow start and missed opportunities both in the first half.
“It’s really frustrating,” Shields said.
“I think we were a bit shocked early on when Chiefs got their first two tries. And on my first last passing effort, unfortunately I had a little bit left and I was really upset. “When I look back on our season, I’m very proud of what we were able to accomplish and put ourselves in a really good position, but we couldn’t get there tonight, so it was underwhelming.”
That’s not to say the Hurricanes didn’t get some help, too. The visitors lost Samipeni Finau (high tackle) and Jacobson (late tackle) to yellow cards in both halves.
The home side were also fortunate to have a high shot and Perenara was not carded himself for a head-on-head high tackle that came just minutes after Jacobson was sent to Xintong for a doubt card. . .
