Rugby: Nonu and Smith nearing dream finish

Midfielders Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith have reunited in the capital this season and never looked better. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

The perfect swansong is nearly complete for two of the most iconic Hurricanes.

Midfielders Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, the two most capped Hurricanes with more than 240 appearances for the franchise between them, have reunited in the capital this season and never looked better.

Both are in their 30s but have enjoyed impressive campaigns, Nonu especially, and Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd couldn't have imagined they'd go this well when he welcomed Nonu back to Wellington.

The second-five had spent the past three years in exile bouncing between the Blues and the Highlanders after he fell out with former coach Mark Hammett in 2011.

Nonu is settled off the field and the results have shown on the paddock and he produced another dynamic display during the Hurricanes' 29-9 semifinal win over the Brumbies at Westpac Stadium in Wellington last night.

Hurricanes veterans Jeremy Thrush and Ben Franks will also leave the franchise at the end of the season.

The Hurricanes have never won a Super Rugby title and Smith, who has spent 12 seasons with the side, would love to go out on the highest of notes in Wellington next weekend.

To do that, they will need to beat the surging Highlanders who have toppled the Chiefs and Waratahs in knockout games recently to make their way to the decider.

"I'd love to play an all-Kiwi final, it'd be something special," Smith said.

One thing you can count on will be a full Westpac Stadium on Saturday. There was 33,460 people in attendance at the semifinal and the sell-out sign should go up again for the final.

At the start of the season, the Hurricanes talked about winning their fans back and finishing at the top of table and earning home-field advantage for the playoffs helped their cause.

"It's a reward for the consistency. We knew that if we put ourselves in that position on the table that that's the reward and we knew the numbers would turn up," Smith said.

"It's brilliant to know we are going to have it again next week. It's pretty exciting."

The Hurricanes will be nursing some battered bodies during the next couple of days after a physical semifinal where the Brumbies didn't back down.

Hurricanes openside flanker Ardie Savea limped from the field in the second spell and his knee will be monitored.

"He's pretty sore but the medical team will do everything they can to get him across the line for next week," Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said.

Manawatu's Callum Gibbins is waiting in the wings for an opportunity if Savea doesn't come right.

Outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder only got through 40 minutes last night before he was pulled after his hamstring tightened up.

The 24-year-old, who looked dangerous on attack during the first spell, didn't want to leave the field but decided it was the safe play.

"The team comes first so I made the call based on that," Milner-Skudder said.

He is another who will be monitored closely this week but he said he should be available for the final.