‘Brutal’ Super 15 final expected

The Wellington Hurricanes-Otago Highlanders Super 15 final tomorrow “is going to be brutal” and could damage New Zealand’s World Cup strength, according to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. But he admits he wouldn’t have it any other way with southern hemisphere club rugby supremacy at stake. The Hurricanes, with 12 current All Blacks in their squad, compared to five with the Highlanders, have been installed as favourites by the pragmatists for the sold-out game in Wellington. Rugby romantics, however, are backing the Highlanders who field a band of rugby nobodies with a never-say-die attitude. In what will be an emotional encounter - neither side has previously won the title - several senior players, including Hurricanes figureheads Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu, will be playing their last Super Rugby match. “It’s going to be a real brutal game,” said Hansen, whose finals’ experience as assistant coach of the champion Canterbury Crusaders in 2000 fuels his trepidation about the risk of injury to key All Blacks ahead of the World Cup beginning in September. “Whilst I’m excited about it being two New Zealand teams, there is a little bit of holding your breath because you don’t want any of those young men to get injured - or anyone for that matter - but not the 17 because they are earmarked to come in and play some of these Test matches that we’ve got to play before we go to the World Cup. “But watching the two teams play, it’s going to be brutal.” The winner will be the eighth franchise to wear the Super Rugby crown in the 20-year history of the tournament and the fourth from New Zealand following the Canterbury Crusaders (seven championships), the Auckland Blues (three) and Waikato Chiefs (two). Three Australian sides have claimed the title - the ACT Brumbies (two), the NSW Waratahs (one) and Queensland Reds (one). The Northern Bulls (three) are the only winners from South Africa. WELLINGTON-NAMPA/AFP