The Hurricanes have received the selection boost every home finalist wants, while the Chiefs have been forced into two significant backline and loose-forward compromises before Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final in Wellington.
The official Super Rugby team announcement confirmed Devan Flanders has cleared his concussion issue to return to the Hurricanes back row, with Isaia Walker-Leawere also starting in the second row. The Chiefs, by contrast, are without Lalakai Foketi because of a calf problem, while Wallace Sititi was not considered as he continues to be managed after concussion.
It sharpens a final that already had plenty of edge. ReadRugbyUnion’s Hurricanes vs Chiefs final preview framed this as a meeting between the competition’s two most convincing sides, and the selection news gives the hosts a cleaner run into the biggest game of their season.
Flanders return matters for Hurricanes balance
Flanders’ return gives the Hurricanes a more settled feel around Du’Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai, while Cam Roigard and Ruben Love remain the half-back axis that can turn pressure into pace in a hurry. Jordie Barrett captains from midfield alongside Billy Proctor, with Josh Moorby and Callum Harkin giving the back three a sharp counter-attacking look.
The Hurricanes’ bench also has punch. Brad Shields and Kini Naholo are the sort of options who can change the tone of a final if the game tightens late, and that matters against a Chiefs side that rarely disappears even when pushed out of rhythm.
Roigard has already been one of the major storylines of the finals series after the reaction to his semi-final moment against the Blues, covered in our piece on Cam Roigard’s response to supporter criticism. This is a cleaner stage for him: one game, one title, no room for noise.
Chiefs still have enough firepower
The Chiefs are wounded but hardly weakened beyond recognition. Damian McKenzie starts at fly-half, Quinn Tupaea lines up in midfield, and Leroy Carter comes onto the wing as Liam Coombes-Fabling shifts to full-back. Kyle Brown replaces Foketi at centre, which puts more responsibility on Tupaea’s decision-making and carrying threat.
The forward pack still contains Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau and captain Luke Jacobson, so the Chiefs will not arrive in Wellington looking like underdogs who need the match to become loose. They can fight through the front door.
Their semi-final win over the Crusaders, previewed by ReadRugbyUnion in Chiefs vs Crusaders, showed how quickly they can turn a physical foothold into scoreboard pressure. The injuries hurt, but the Chiefs still have a final-calibre spine. The Hurricanes just look the more settled side at exactly the right time.
