Super Rugby finalists’ NAME PLATES, which one will be engraved?
After 124 games spread across 18 Rounds and a fortnight of finals, we stand at the cusp of crowning a 1st-time Super Rugby champion.
We run the rule over both teams – examine their strengths, potntial weaknesses and try to decipher where the game will be won.
Strengths:
By now, most know the respective strengths of the Hurricanes and the Highlanders. The ‘Canes have an incredible ball-in-hand game, gaining more metres (566), beating more defenders (25) and making more clean breaks (12) than any other team on average. They also boast the 3rd-best tackling success (88 %) and best scrum success rates (95 %), showing few chinks in their armour.
The Highlanders have shown a ruthless streak this season, scoring the 2nd-most tries (61) despite spending the 2nd lowest time in possession per game (14 min 18 sec per game). They have put boot to ball the 2nd most often in 2015 (25.4 per game), using this tactic to pin their opposition back and strike within enemy territory. Kicking the ball into touch also helps when you can rely on your lineout ability and the Dunedin-based side can do just that as is boasts the 3rd-best throw in Super Rugby this season with an 89 % success rate.
Weaknesses:
It is always difficult to find weaknesses in 2 finalists as they represent the best the competition has to offer, but there are areas in each team that can be exploited.
For the Hurricanes, they will need to brush up on their lineout as their 81 % success at the throw-in is the 3rd-worst in the competition and is surely open to attack from a Highlanders lineout which is the 3rd-best in Super Rugby this year, and 4th-best at stealing the opposition throw.
Arguably the ‘Canes switch off a little in the 20 minutes before halftime, with that quarter of the game representing the only one in which they have conceded double figures in terms of tries (11) this season. The Highlanders will surely look to capitalise on this as they seem to peak around halftime, outscoring their opponents in that time period this season (20 tries) and the ‘Canes will need to be alert during this spell.
Conversely, the Highlanders start slowly, scoring just 8 tries in the opening 20 minutes of their games, compared to 20, 20 and 13 in the 3 quarters that follow respectively. They have also conceded 10 tries in that opening period.
Although the Highlanders are efficient with their lack of on-the-ball time, they may find that a lack of meaningful time in possession could see them come unstuck against a Hurricanes side that boasts a strong defence, particularly with their 1st up tackling, emphasised by the fact that they have conceded a joint-low 6 tries from 1st phase ball this season.
Both sides also have a poor record in front of goal with the Hurricanes’ 69 % kicking success being only slightly better than the Highlanders’ 68 %. In a game that could be decided by the smallest margins, these kicks could be the difference between a Super Rugby title and a runner-up medal.
Ardie Savea… still in doubt for the Final
Last time they met:
When the sides met in Round 17, the Hurricanes ran out 56 / 20 winners in a victory that now stands as their biggest ever against the side from Dunedin. However, the visitors’ All Blacks stars were rested for that game, so while that match may have dented a few egos in Dunedin it shouldn’t add much of a psychological advantage to the ‘Canes on a night where they were playing for the late Jerry Collins.
The ‘Canes, however, also won their Round 6 meeting back in March with in a tightly contested 20 / 13 victory in the South Island. Remarkably, the score was locked at 3 / 3 after 48 minutes before Reg Goodes barged over, showing just how tight the Final should be. The stats were also tight, with the ‘Canes (135) making just 9 carries more than the Highlanders (124), while both sides made 9 clean breaks each. Defensively both teams posted similar figures as the Wellington-based side made 123 tackles compared to the Highlanders’ 137, with both recording an 83 % tackle success rate.
Ultimately the most important stat was the scoreline, as always, and the Hurricanes crossed the whitewash twice to the Dunedin side’s 1 try to take 4 points back to Wellington despite the best efforts of Lima Sopoaga who scored all 13 points for the hosts.
The Highlanders team will be unchanged for the Final
Where it will be won:
Both sides will be comfortable facing their opposition’s game plan which should make for an intriguing encounter.
The ‘Landers are comfortable putting boot to ball and exchanging possession for territory, while the Hurricanes are happy to run from deep and trust their ball in hand game. Unless 1 team changes their game drastically in an attempt to surprise their opponents, then the match should be determined by who executes their favoured plan with the greatest accuracy. However, with home advantage behind the Hurricanes, 1 suspects that the Highlanders will have to find that little bit extra in Wellington to take home the trophy.
There has been just 1 away Super Rugby Final winner in the last 14 seasons; the Hurricanes will surely believe that fact can carry them over the line in a tight affair while the Dunedin men will suggest that form and records are there to be broken.
Whatever happens, it is sure to be a thrilling climax to Super Rugby 2015.
Should be an absolute cracker!
Bring it on!
Potential to be an absolute classic game.
Highlanders surely the underdogs but have shown moments of brilliance.
Cant help wondering what would have happened to the Canes season if the Lions had converted stats into points and won their game in round one!
Irrelevant now though.
Let us hope Peyper doesnt swallow his whistle and bugger up a potentially great game by being overly pedantic.
Dont know who to support… Highlanders remind me of the bulls and the canes totally deserve it this year.
Go landers! 😆
Im such a sucker for the underdog.
MacroPolo wrote:
Please elaborate on how you manage to draw that conclusion.
Highlanders are a team full of no name players playing like All Blacks, whereas the Bulls are a team full of Springboks playing like no name players
The University of Stellenbosch is suing Saru CEO Jurie Roux for R32-million, which it claims he used to help fund the Maties Rugby Club.
Netwerk24 reports that according to court documents, Roux and a colleague, Chris de Beer (then the deputy director of student fees), worked together between 2002 and 2010 where they made ‘unauthorised’ transfers from the university’s reserve funds.
The funds are believed to have been transferred to a variety of cost points related to the Maties Rugby Club, and used for a variety of club activities, including bursaries for players.
Roux left his job as chairperson of the Stellenbosch Rugby Club in 2010 to become SARU CEO, while De Beer was fired by the university in 2012.
The South African Rugby Union has terminated the employment of referees boss André Watson.
Saru confirmed the arbitration award that was issued by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
At the beginning of this year, a number of people within the referees’ department lodged a grievance against Watson and Saru commissioned an independent investigation into the grievance.
As a result of the findings, the CCMA was requested to consider certain allegations relating to Watson. Contrary to some earlier reports, the allegations that were dealt with by the CCMA did not relate to racism, financial irregularities, misappropriation or match-fixing but to the relationship between Watson and a number of people within the referees’ department and in turn the impact of such relationship on Saru.
Reports earlier this year suggested grievances had related to verbal abuse, victimisation, his abrasive management style and financial impropriety.
The CCMA found the allegations that had been levelled against Watson had been proved and as a consequence the CCMA found that the employment of Watson with Saru should be terminated. The CCMA’s finding is final and binding on Saru and Watson.
Jurie Roux, CEO of Saru, said: ‘The CCMA process has been concluded and the CCMA Commissioner has issued a finding which is final and binding on Saru and Watson.
‘This has been an unfortunate and difficult period for Saru – both for our match officials who were involved in the process – and, of course, for André Watson personally and professionally.
‘We took the grievance seriously and have followed a thorough, independent process which culminated in Saru parting ways with André Watson. It was a difficult process but nonetheless a necessary one.
‘We will move on from here and my wish is that André is remembered for his contribution to match officiating and not for the circumstances relating to his departure from Saru. He has been a major figure in world refereeing for a number of decades and has been part of developing South African referees into some of the best in the world.’
Roux said it was important that South African match officials operated in a harmonious environment and he would address them collectively on the future of their department.
The management and operations of the referees’ department would, in the meantime, be handled by Saru’s rugby department.
Roux said he would make no further comment on the matter out of respect for Watson’s contribution to rugby and to allow the fraternity to focus on the future after a difficult and trying period.
@ nortie:
The bulls of old of course
well, well, well……..
I have a new lease on life after listening to our Bok coach speak on Bootsan’all. He spoke very convincingly and I liked how he handled the tougher questions. Just maybe………………and I don’t want to get ahead of myself????
think I’m heading shopping for fish food tomorrow at 9 for want of something better to do. What other compelling idea could trump that exciting event? Ah yes, 46 okes are playing a game of rugby. Almost forgot. Could be a cracker. Go the Landers.
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