Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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maoriboy

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#3504984 21-Jun-2026 10:11

As a Hurricanes fan I could not be more delighted by that result. The team played almost perfect rugby for the conditions and literally blew the woeful Chiefs off the park. If I were to rate the Chiefs players, most would be getting a 2 or 3 out of 10, Taukiaho being one of the few exceptions. DMac played himself out of an AB's starting 10 jersey after that performance, Tupaea was comprehensively outplayed by his opposites and the two locks, and likely AB selections were sub standard.

All in all, it was a fantastic night to be a Hurricanes supporter and a shocking one for the perennial runners up.

tukapa1

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#3504997 21-Jun-2026 12:01

As a Hurricanes fan myself, I was very happy with that result.

As Clark Laidlaw said, every little moment went the Canes way in that first half, and the Chiefs couldn't catch a break.

It was concerning to see an inability to change the game plan from DMac. It was very obvious that ball in hand was the name of the game into that wind. Anybody who has played a game with those sort of conditions knows you use the wind to your advantage when it's behind you to hammer a territory advantage and rely on mistakes by the opposition trying to get out of their territory. Chiefs didn't play that.

I was pretty comfortable with 29 points going into the break, but expected more from the Chiefs with a territory game and pressure in the Canes 22.

The Canes played perfect footy into the wind. No way I expected them to better than double their halftime score into the wind.

Can the Chiefs come back from four losses on the trot? Maybe not until they have a complete clean out.

I do feel for them. They were clearly the second best team in the competition by a long way and that final wasn't reflective of that.

Dingbatt

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#3505003 21-Jun-2026 13:13

The supposed match ups across the park never really eventuated.

I’m still scratching my head how multiple kick offs can go dead because of the wind and yet assist the scoring of a penalty from half way in the opposite direction? The wind in that stadium must be supernatural.

I hate to use the “Chokers” term, but it’s starting to look pretty apt after four in a row.
Goes to show what finishing top of the regular season does for you. An easier ride through the quarters and semis meant the Hurricanes weren't as beaten up as the Chiefs.

Sititi may have been the difference in the round robin (golden point try) but I don’t think he would have made much difference to the rampage that happened.

I’m trying to decide if the Chiefs saved their worst game for the final, the Hurricanes saved their best, or a mixture of the two.

At least Clark Laidlaw didn’t breakdance on the pitch.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

networkn

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#3505087 21-Jun-2026 16:18

Dingbatt:

So not a Chiefs fan then? That’s a surprise. You hide it so well.

I was similarly miffed to see people on here saying they would support overseas teams in the finals the Crusaders played against overseas opponents.

Like the week before in the Chiefs v Cru match, the Hurricanes got every good bounce of the ball and bit of luck that existed, and the Chiefs got none. The wind was merciless towards the Chiefs, but DMacs (and the Chiefs in general) inability to change his approach was astounding. They had key points mentioned at half time and did almost none of it.

I said it a few posts ago, but the way that each week it was either a feast or famine on points for teams who the week before had got the opposite is troubling.

Regardless, there is something wrong with the way the Chiefs prepare for finals. It's been there a long time. As mentioned 3 of the biggest scoreline losses in finals are owned by the Chiefs. It's persisted across at least 3 coaches, Rennie being the only one who was able to get them over the line. Having said that, both matches at home against the Crusaders were pretty tight comparitively and the Hurricanes have been pretty phenomenal both in defence and attack this season.

networkn

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#3505090 21-Jun-2026 16:26

maoriboy:

DMac played himself out of an AB's starting 10 jersey after that performance.

If Rennie starts DMac at 10 for any reason other than not having a choice (injury), my already fairly low opinion of him would be in the gutter.

Having said that, Beauden looks fairly shaky and putting Love in at 10 having never played even 30 minutes at 10 in test level would be piling on a lot of pressure and has potential negative consequences too.

Having said that, I might consider it, if they used the Hurricanes 9, 10 and 12 combination, which he is familar, and have Beauden off the bench if things get really wobbly. Havilli is all day long a better choice at 12, as a mature and steady voice outside Love (and can play 10 and could be a second playmaker, but familiarity would have a reasonable argument too, and so Barrett would get the nod most likely.

tukapa1

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#3505099 21-Jun-2026 17:13

networkn:

Havilli is all day long a better choice at 12, as a mature and steady voice outside Love.

You have said many things over the years which show a lack of understanding of the game, but this takes the cake.

So the guy that got made to look like a boy against men vs Tupaea, is better than the guy who dominated Tupaea, who was also the most consistent and dominant 12 for the whole season?

PS - Dave Rennie doesn't care what you think of him. I doubt anybody else in the forum does either, but feel free to phone a friend.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

Earbanean

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#3505103 21-Jun-2026 17:52

Wow, what an amazing performance from the Canes and a massively well deserved title. They were the best team all season but still managed to take it to an even higher level for the final.

I more or less called it right when I thought it could blow out against the Chiefs, but I never saw a scoreline like that coming. Having to play the red hot Canes in Welly, with a reasonable injury list, was always going to be tough, but the atrocious conditions made it a perfect storm - in more ways than one. It's amazing how well the Canes handled the conditions, and how badly the Chiefs did. DMac is from Invercargill for god's sake.

Note, I don't think DMac played himself out of the test 10 jersey, because IMO it wasn't his in the first place. As I said a while back, I see Love as the starting 10 in July and I think more people are now getting on the Love Boat too. They need to be brave, start him in July and give him time in the saddle before the SA tour. Thankfully, I think the new coaching team is brave enough to do that.

Even while disappointed about the Chiefs performance, I can't wait for the team naming tomorrow night and can't help being optimist about the AB season ahead. The way the Canes and (to a lesser extent) Chiefs played this year and with a new and improved coaching team, you can't help but be excited. Everything's there for an exciting, ball in hand, brand of AB footy. Bring it!

networkn

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#3505104 21-Jun-2026 17:58

It's weird to claim improvement before even a single test has been played. Each to their own though.

OnceBitten

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#3505114 21-Jun-2026 20:02

I haven't read all the posts since the game yesterday, but that was a complete drubbing by the Hurricanes

The Chiefs just had no answer to the Canes rampant attack..... didn't help that Dmac didn't have one of his best days, but well done to the Canes.

Love was a standout player for me and I hope his name is in the AB squad named tomorrow

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