New Super Rugby champions to make history

Well done to the Lions and the Hurricanes! Wow, you have to take your hat off for the Lions, considering where they started 3 years ago. Kicked out of Super Rugby by SARU to make place for the EP Kings, to now traveling to the ‘Cake Tin’ for a Super Rugby final!

Yes, the format is complete rubbish; however, the Lions did play the NZ sides and beat the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders this year. No team, however, has ever crossed the Indian Ocean to win a final and although the coaches in the spirit of this wonderful game are not using ‘travelling’ as an excuse, I still believe it is a major factor. I’ve never seen a Kiwi team so out of puff as the Highlanders in the last 20 minutes despite scoring two conciliation tries when the Lions had their replacements on.

Although SupeRugby started as Super 6 in 1992, with the Reds winning it (no SA sides included), it expanded to Super 10 in 1993 with South Africa’s strongest Currie Cup teams entering this competition. Transvaal (now Lions) under Francois Pienaar not only won the Currie Cup that year, but, also beat the Reds in the final. The Queenslanders won again in 1994 and ’95 with world class players like Michael Lynagh, Tim Horan and Jason Little in their midfield,

The SANZAR Super 12, and the professional era kicked off in 1996. Since then it has expanded to Super 14 and now the ridiculous Super 18 format. The Kiwis have won it 13 times with the Hurricanes the only team from ‘across the ditch’ not to lift the trophy!

The ‘men from down under’ won it 4 times and the Bulls the only success story from the Republic with 3 titles.

So history will be made, one way or another on Saturday. It will be a maiden win for either the Lions or the Hurricanes.

Let’s put our ‘head on the guillotine’ and predict the outcome!

Hurricanes:

The Hurricanes’ defence, with the astute John Plumtree bringing a bit of mongrel, have not given a five pointer away in the last 2 ½ games. TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett and Ardie Savea are on top of the world. Ironically none of them are All Black starters…..wow! If Dan Coles starts it will be the edge and the Hurricanes, with home ground advantage, will be crowned Champions!

Lions:

Starting with only 4 Springboks at the start of the campaign, the Lions should now on merit have at least 9-11 players included into the Springbok squad for the Championship. Their change of game plan to a more ‘attacking Kiwi-style’ play, took 3 years in the making; however, it has paid off! Their set phase play could make the difference and they need Warren Whiteley to be on the field to keep up with the pace Hurricanes, but it’s still a long shot.

Who will be the Prince of Thieves?

Ruan Combrinck or Cory Jane? TJ Perenara or Faf de Klerk?

Who will be the ‘Gladiators’?

Ardie Savea or Jaco Kriel? Julian Redelinghuys or Loni “The Tongan bear” Uhila?

More important, who will be The General?

Beauden Barrett or Elton Jantjies?

AussieBoer’s prediction. Hurricanes by 10!

PS: if the Lions do pull this off, Clint Eastwood might just start writing an‘Invictus II’ script! This is what Hollywood stories are made of.

Kevin D (AusssieBoer) writing on behalf of www.TheRugbyPod.com

SARU Level III and ARU Level II