Rugby: It all hinges on the breakdown

Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu is one of only two Chiefs to have played in a Super rugby semifinal. Photo / Sarah Ivey

To shamelessly adapt Bill Clinton's iconic 1992 election campaign catchphrase about the economy: "It's the breakdown, stoopid."

That's what will decide tonight's Super 14 semifinal between the Chiefs and the Hurricanes.

In the first match between these two 14 days ago, the Chiefs shaded the breakdown and edged the match 16-8. They dominated the contest for possession at the tackle, forcing the Hurricanes to operate mainly off static, backfoot ball.

Just like in 1992, when Clinton defeated George H. Bush by staying relentlessly on-message, that blueprint for success won't have changed.

"We have busted our gut to get this far, but what we have done so far means nothing," said Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina. "The breakdown is going to be key. We have to look after the ball because they have strike weapons all over the park that can hurt you."

Hurricanes hooker Andrew Hore, who looms as one of the biggest threats to the Chiefs at the breakdown, agreed.

"We didn't get quick ball and we didn't get much territory either," said Hore, who will lace his boots for his 200th first-class match.

"It was almost a test-match-like game last time we were up there. A couple of missed tackles and a couple of dumb penalties and the Chiefs got away on us. But if we can take those things out of our game and put some pressure on them, then we should go close."

Close isn't really what the Hurricanes are after. They've been there too many times before. Hore, who debuted against the Chiefs as a Crusader in 2001, has been through four unsuccessful Hurricanes playoff campaigns in the past five years.

This time, he said, the sentiment within the team had changed.

"The boys aren't happy just to make the semifinals any more. We want to keep going. I'm coming to the end of my career and to win the Super 14 before I finish is one of my big goals.

"A lot of players have gone through their careers without winning anything. My best mate [former Hurricanes and Taranaki lock] Paul Tito had to go all the way to bloody Wales to end up winning a competition. Hopefully I don't have to do that."

If the Hurricanes are perennial bridesmaids, the Chiefs are more like wedding crashers.

In terms of the psychological battle, a team with virtually no big-match experience is taking on one with plenty - but most of it negative.

Hore, though, insists there are no monkeys clinging to the Hurricanes' backs.

"Most of us are pretty used to playing the game, dealing with it and then moving on to the next thing. If you look at it harshly, we have been to a few semis and haven't quite got there, but the boys know what we've done wrong in the past.

"We want to learn from our mistakes and make sure that we get excited about being in a semifinal instead of having a daunting week.

"It's the old cliche but there is nothing to lose. We just want to throw everything at it, try to enjoy it and hopefully get another week."

The Chiefs have just two players with finals experience. Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu is the sole survivor from the 2004 defeat by the Brumbies in Canberra, while Muliaina won the title as a fresh-faced 22-year-old Blue a season earlier.

But, having beaten the Hurricanes and Brumbies in successive must-win matches to book their semifinal spot, the Chiefs' big-match mentality was not in question, coach Ian Foster said.

"There was plenty at stake last time and we need to take confidence from the fact that under that sort of pressure we held firm," Foster said. "Semifinal rugby is about stepping up a bit. They are probably a little bit more experienced at this end than we are but the last two or three weeks should hold us in very good stead. They have prepared us well for what is to come."

Two brutal matches in succession have taken their toll on the Chiefs. While the Hurricanes line up close to full strength, centre Richard Kahui, halfback Brendon Leonard and senior prop Ben May are all injury-related absentees for the Chiefs.

Back-up halfback David Bason was also a late withdrawal, his place on the bench going to Taranaki's Brett Goodin. That disruption was the last thing the Chiefs needed but, on the eve of a first playoff match since his first season in charge in 2004, Foster was not about to talk down his team's chances.

"There are going to be no excuses, there is going to be no talk about the past or tiredness. We are in the semis, we are really excited about being here and we want to put our best foot forward."

Hamilton, 7.35 tonight

CHIEFS
Mils Muliaina (c)
Lelia Masaga
Dwayne Sweeney
Callum Bruce
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Toby Morland
Sione Lauaki
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam
Kevin O'Neill
Craig Clarke
James McGougan
A. de Malmanche
Sona Taumalolo

HURRICANES
Cory Jane
Tamati Ellison
Conrad Smith
Ma'a Nonu
David Smith
Willie Ripia
Piri Weepu
R. So'oialo (c)
Scott Waldrom
Victor Vito
Jason Eaton
Jeremy Thrush
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore
John Schwalger

Chiefs: Hika Elliot, Joe Savage, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, Brett Goodin, Mike Delany, Sosene Anesi.

Hurricanes: Ged Robinson, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Karl Lowe, Alby Mathewson, Jason Kawau, Zac Guildford.