Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa and Chiefs No. 8 Luke Jacobson. Photo: Bruce Lim / www.photosport.nz
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says the two wins over the Crusaders this season will count for nothing when the teams face off in Hamilton on Saturday night in the Super Rugby Pacific final.
The 11-time Super Rugby champion Crusaders finished second on the table after the regular season but they will want to send coach Scott Robertson out to his next gig with the All Blacks on a winning note.
McMillan said the Chiefs' two wins over the Christchurch-based side in round-robin matches have been forgotten about ahead of the title shoot-out. They won in Christchurch 34-10 in round one and in Hamilton 34-24 in round ten.
Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan. Photo: Photosport
"We've had two tough games, and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't have loved it to have been a little bit easier on my heart, or for us to do it a little bit easier," McMillan said.
"But we're just getting the job done, and at this stage of the season, there's no bonus points, it's irrelevant how big the scoreline is, it's just about being at the right end of that scoreline at the end of the game.
"There's been times over the last few years where we would've fallen away and lost those sorts of games.
"Winning or losing is often based on a couple of moments, and the fact that over the last few weeks we've been able to win the moments that really matter gives us a lot of confidence."
Both teams have a host of players with strong Pacific links in their squads.
The Crusaders, for instance, have the likes of All Black five eighth Richie Mo'unga, looseforwards Sione Havili Talitui and Christian Lio-Willie and backs Chay Fihaki, Melani Nanai, Leicester Fainga'anuku and Pepesana Fatafilo.
The Chiefs have frontrowers Samisoni Taukei'aho, Atunaisa Moli, Angus Ta'avao, secondrowers Tupou Vaa'I, Naitoa Ah Koy, looseforwards Pita Gus Sowakula and Sampeni Finau and backs Josh Ioane, new All Black Emoni Narawa, Etene Nainai-Seturo and Peniasi Malimali.
The first All Blacks squad of the year has been named and, after squaring up on Saturday, those ABs playing in the final will then join forces when they go into camp to prepare to face Argentina in Mendoza on July 9.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster will be hoping no-one gets injured in this weekend's final.
The Crusaders reached the final with a comfortable win over the Blues, 52-15, last week; while the Chiefs downed the Brumbies 19-6 in a hard-fought game.
'I just ran out of the house'
Two of the Chiefs' finalists are among the five debutants named in the All Blacks squad.
The Suva-born Hamilton Boys' High School product Emoni Narawa, who plays on the wing, has had an outstanding season and is the perfect replacement for injured Sevu Reece.
"I am very surprised to be named in the All Blacks' squad," he admitted.
Then there is Samipeni Finau a fullback turned looseforward who hails from Tonga. Two of his uncles played for Tonga and one played for Japan.
"I was at my partner's house, and we were having Sunday dinner," Finau said on hearing the news.
"We were just chilling there waiting for the food and I was watching on my phone the team getting announced.
"When I heard my name, I just ran out of the house…even now I'm shocked that I'm in there," he said.
Narawa, who came to New Zealand on a scholarship in 2017, said he was still buzzing.
"I was quite nervous the whole day, to be honest, I didn't eat or anything, so it felt like a long day.
He thanked McMillan for cutting down his McDonald's feeds.
Chiefs reserve Samipeni Finau. Super Rugby Pacific - Chiefs v Highlanders played at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton on Friday 10 March 2023. © Mandatory credit: Bruce Lim / www.photosport.nz Photo: © Mandatory photo credit: Bruce Lim / www.photosport.nz