Super Rugby Pacific semifinal: Chiefs v Brumbies. Where: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton. When: 7.05pm, Saturday. Coverage: Live on Sky Sport, live updates on Stuff from 6.45pm.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is calling on the home fans to turn up the heat on the Brumbies in Saturday night’s Super Rugby Pacific semifinal in Hamilton.
As the Chiefs enter what is their first home semifinal since 2013 – the year they last claimed silverware – McMillan’s memory flashed back to the two playoff games they have lost under his reign.
While he said last year’s semifinal defeat to the Crusaders in Christchurch was not in itself a motivating factor for this weekend, that occasion, along with the previous year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa loss to the same opposition at the same venue, clearly stuck in the mind.
This, of course, from a man who, before the season kicked off this year, made no bones about his desire to see his team achieve top-seeding for the playoffs, and reap the benefits that come with it.
“We’ve learnt that it’s incredibly hard to go and win away from home,” McMillan said. “There’s some pretty parochial crowds around in New Zealand, and it’s not often a pleasant experience going there, particularly when there’s a lot at stake. So we’d love to be able to reciprocate.
“Every team loves it when you have that in your own backyard, and despise it when it’s coming against you.”
Fans at FMG Stadium Waikato indeed get as close to the action as anywhere, certainly well within earshot, and Brumbies goalkickers Jack Debreczeni and Noah Lolesio, in particular, are sure to have the sound of cowbells ringing through their ears from a healthy, if not sold-out, crowd, as the Canberrans try and become the first Australian side to win a playoff in New Zealand in 15 attempts.
“We’ve earnt the luxury of being at home, and I just really hope that our people come out in force – rain, hail or shine, on Saturday, because to go away to those other places, you get a real appreciation for how much that counts for something,” McMillan said.
“One of our real purposes is to play well for our region, that’s talked about a lot in the Chiefs environment. We know that our fans have been through a lot of heartache over the years. We’d love dearly to be able to play in front of them in a final, if we’re good enough, with them on our back doorstep. It means a massive amount to us.”
In stark contrast to their 2-10 playoff record on the road, the Chiefs are 7-0 in home finals. Their three home semis have all been decided by four points or fewer, though, while last weekend’s quarterfinal win over the Reds was also a close-run thing.
McMillan maintained that going deep into the well to get the job done against the Queenslanders was the best possible preparation his side could have had, keeping them on edge to know nothing would be gifted to them easy, while also proving to themselves they have the composure under pressure to get the job done.
At the same time, he conceded there were facets in that game that have been highlighted to get sorted this week. After technical issues at scrum time, he said he’d be disappointed if the pack doesn’t respond in style, while, assuming the weather plays ball, expect the kick-run balance to be restored to something more Chiefs-like.
“We certainly identified that we missed opportunities to run when we could have, and [we’ve been] just challenging our guys this week to see that space and opportunity a little earlier and be courageous enough to pull the trigger and go.”
The Chiefs certainly have the strike power to expose a Brumbies side who are coming off their own thrilling quarterfinal victory – 37-33 over the Hurricanes in Canberra last Saturday – and who qualified fourth on the back of a more favourable draw than the Kiwi sides had.
They have troubled the Chiefs in the not-too-distant past, mind you, winning three of the four clashes between 2019 and 2022, and being the side to score from lineouts more than any other this year, shutting down their driving maul will be key.
The Chiefs did that so well in their 31-21 win in the Aussie capital just three weeks ago, and for a side who has toppled every other in the competition, McMillan knows the recipe is all there for them.
“If we play somewhere near our potential we feel like we’re good enough to get the job done, and we’ll buy ourselves another week.”
AT A GLANCE
Chiefs: Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Alex Nankivell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber (co-capt), Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (co-capt), Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i, Brodie Retallick, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, John Ryan, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Pita Gus Sowakula, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Rameka Poihipi.
Brumbies: Tom Wright, Andy Muirhead, Len Ikitau, Tamati Tua, Ollie Sapsford, Jack Debreczeni, Nic White (capt), Rob Valetini, Pete Samu, Tom Hooper, Cadeyrn Neville, Nick Frost, Sefo Kautai, Lachlan Lonergan, James Slipper. Reserves: Connal McInerney, Blake Schoupp, Rhys van Nek, Darcy Swain, Luke Reimer, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole.
