Andrew Mulligan: We need this title
Hurricanes fans have been through it all. We've endured most things. We're expecting this title tomorrow night. We need this title tomorrow night, writes Andrew Mulligan.
Hurricanes fans have been through it all. We've endured most things. We're expecting this title tomorrow night. We need this title tomorrow night, writes Andrew Mulligan.
Wellingtonians have become understandably pessimistic, expecting the worst in order to limit their disappointment when the worst duly transpires, writes Paul Thomas.
Sympathy for the southern man is a sporting trait we find hard to shift, writes Wynne Gray.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says "the emotion will take care of itself" when the Hurricanes play in their first ever home Super Rugby final.
More tickets to the super rugby final have gone on sale this morning from a pop-up Ticketek store outside Te Papa in Wellington. Two thousand tickets were made available from 8am for punters lining up - and some have been there since six o'clock last night. Each fan could purchase a maximum of two tickets. Fans cheered and clapped for Hurricanes hooker and All Black Dane Coles when he arrived.
They may be great mates off the field but TJ Perenara refuses to talk to Cory Jane at training.
The provinces had become disenchanted with the Hurricanes in recent years but their first pre-season match of 2015 in Eketahuna on January 31 changed all that.
The Hurricanes will likely wait until Thursday to make a call on injured players Ardie Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Cory Jane ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby final against the Highlanders in Wellington.
The Hurricanes will likely wait until Thursday to make a call on three injured players.
The lineout drive was meant to be a pet play of the Brumbies.
We've got the two best teams going head to head and you wouldn't put your house on the winner, writes Justin Marshall.
For 40 minutes, Nehe Milner-Skudder terrorised the Brumbies before he was taken out of the semifinal so as not to tempt fate with his tight hamstring.
Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby semifinal between the Highlanders and the Waratahs.
Milner-Skudder joined the Hurricanes as a wider training group member last season and skipper Conrad Smith said he caught the eye of the senior players on the training paddock.
Captain Conrad Smith has been a part of the best and worst times at the franchise and says the building blocks were laid during the past few years.
The Hurricanes are dangerous given their prowess on attack but have one major weakness.
The Hurricanes have earned home advantage for the Super Rugby semifinals and the prospect of playing in their first final since 2006 is a firm reality.
Considering the Chiefs lost five from five against the Kiwi sides still alive in the Super Rugby playoffs, no arguments can be made of an unjust exit.
Ticket sales have been strong for the Hurricanes with more than 17,000 already snapped up for Saturday's semifinal at Westpac Stadium.
First-five Otere Black has slotted 13 from 14, striking the ball nicely, while Mitch Hunt, who should be named at fullback, has 10 from 13.
Chris Rattue reveals the two rugby and league players who are on his must-watch list.