The Chiefs have stormed into the 2024 Super Rugby final after a commanding 19-30 victory over the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday evening.
The win sets up an eagerly anticipated New Zealand derby against the Blues next weekend.
The Chiefs made a blistering start, with Samipeni Finau and Cortez Ratima crossing the try line within the first six minutes. Their early offensive onslaught saw them lead 0-17 after just 15 minutes, a margin that proved too difficult for the Hurricanes to overcome.
Peter Lakai managed to score for the Hurricanes in the 20th minute, offering a glimmer of hope for the home side. However, critical errors, including Joshua Moorby’s fumble as he attempted to touch down, dashed their chances of a comeback.
The Chiefs’ dynamic play was epitomised by 21-year-old back-rower Wallace Sititi. Sititi made a game-changing interception in the 61st minute, running 50 meters before setting up Daniel Rona for a try that halted the Hurricanes’ momentum. Earlier, Sititi had been instrumental in another try, retrieving an Etene Nanai-Suturo chip kick and combining with Luke Jacobson to send Ratima over the line in the sixth minute.
Captain Luke Jacobson expressed immense pride in his team. “We had a really good plan throughout the week and we just came out here and trusted it. We were accurate, maybe not fully all the time, but I’m just really proud that we came out here and executed,” he said.
The Hurricanes’ skipper, Brad Shields, lamented their missed opportunities and slow start. “It’s pretty gutting,” Shields admitted. “The first two tries the Chiefs got up, it was a bit of a shock. We left a little bit out there unfortunately, and we’re just really gutted because if we look back on our season, we were extremely proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.”
The Chiefs’ victory means the Blues will host the final at Eden Park next Saturday evening, adding another chapter to the fierce rivalry between the two teams. Fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling climax to the Super Rugby season.
