Aisle be Back: Hurricanes v Blues semi-final in Wellington

• By Kevin McCarthy 

I’m not sure I should write anything this week. It is a home semi-final, and the winner goes through to the Super Rugby final against the Chiefs or the Crusaders. Is that enough?

I mean, there should be jitters with any fan about somehow jinxing this Saturday night. Do you embrace that, and big-up the Hurricanes against a Blues side that has set very little on fire.

Dispassionately, you have every right to take that approach. And jinxing isn’t real. Since 100-thousand people will be having their opinions, just why would yours make any difference at all?

The flip side of course is to barely acknowledge it’s the biggest game of the year to date. Trot out some stuff about the Blues still being dangerous, that nothing is being taken for granted, that the Canes blew their semi last season. Most of what you say will have a grain of truth.

It’s just that you don’t want to be that jinxer do you, so best shut up.

Irrationally, I mislaid my Hurricanes (2006 vintage) shirt before the quarterfinal. I was worried that dressing like a civvie might mean the team would lose. Ridiculous, but there you go. Seems like I got away with it. Will I take the same risk this time? No way.

I guess it’s safe to talk about last week. I was hardly offering any insight to predict poorish weather and that the Brumbies might struggle with that.

In fact, although the rain showers looked spectacular swirling around the lighting towers pre-match, that was pretty much the last of it. Fatally, the swirling wind currents did much more damage, with the Brumbies slow to adjust. By then, as you know, the match was out of sight – but due as much to the forward dominance, and the sharp attack.

Watching from one end, it’s a joy to watch some of the movement in this particular backline, working to stretch defences with timing and pace. The moves aren’t overly complicated, which can make the tries sometimes look easy.

Noticeably, the Brumbies backline on attack was pretty much pass and carry into contact, with not much artifice. The occasional cutbacks and chip were effective, but the gap was noticeable.

Was this Brumbies side much chop? No. They weren’t a patch on some previous sides, especially up front. Stephen Larkham was clearly embarrassed and chastened by the end.

It should be closer on Saturday. Semi-finals with the added pressure should see to that. Time for a prediction? I’ll let you know next week.

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Certainly, it’s a bit harder to pick up a ticket this week in my preferred part of the park, so it should be a better crowd this week.

Heartening to see a lot of young adults out and about last weekend. Let’s face it, the hoopla around the games isn’t designed to appeal to old types like me.

Instead, the younger crowd have attention spans as long as a TikTok reel. Let’s say if you want to do the sort of chair rises you should be doing as you age, then go to a game. There’s a lot of standing up for other fans as they remember they are either hungry, thirsty, both, or in need of bladder relief.

That’s just in the first 10 minutes by the way.

They also move in connected strings of about half a dozen. Presumably, this stops anyone getting lost.

But please keep coming. The team needs you, and I need the exercise.

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The Hurricanes have selected an unchanged forward pack to meet the Blues, which sees Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, and Pasilio Tosi all retained in the front row, while Warner Dearns and Caleb Delany pack down in the second row.

Two milestones headline the loose forwards, where blindside flanker Brad Shields will overtake Dane Coles as the third-most capped Hurricanes player in his 142nd match for the organisation, and No 8 Peter Lakai becomes the seventh player to reach 50 Hurricanes caps this season. Co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi rounds out the back row.

Cam Roigard and Ruben Love resume their pairing at halfback and first-five, respectively, as do co-captain Jordie Barrett and centre Billy Proctor in the midfield.

The only alteration in the starting side comes on the left wing, where Fehi Fineanganofo completes his return from injury. He joins right wing Josh Moorby and fullback Callum Harkin in the outside backs.

Two new figures are included in the reserves in the form of wing Kini Naholo and loosehead prop Siale Lauaki, who returns from injury. Together, they accompany Raymond Tuputupu, Tyrel Lomax, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Ereatara Enari, and Jone Rova in an otherwise unchanged bench.

HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY BLUES (Hurricanes caps in brackets)

1. Xavier Numia (90)
2. Asafo Aumua (88)
3. Pasilio Tosi (51)
4. Caleb Delany (51)
5. Warner Dearns (13)
6. Brad Shields (141)
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (104) – co-captain
8. Peter Lakai (50th match)
9. Cam Roigard (59)
10. Ruben Love (53)
11. Fehi Fineanganofo (24)
12. Jordie Barrett (123) – co-captain
13. Billy Proctor (81)
14. Josh Moorby (52)
15. Callum Harkin (23)
16. Raymond Tuputupu (24)
17. Siale Lauaki (15)
18. Tyrel Lomax (73)
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere (91)
20. Brayden Iose (65)
21. Ereatara Enari (25)
22. Jone Rova (14)
23. Kini Naholo (37)

UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION

Devan Flanders (concussion): TBC
Jai Tamati (knee): Season
Brett Cameron (knee): Season
Riley Higgins (shoulder): Season
Drew Wild (shoulder): 1 week