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So, one game to go, and we’re all locked up at the top and we’re all locked up the bottom. Elisha is both safe in the middle and doomed to the bronze medal. Not even double points can help him.
Thus, it’s a question of who will blink first. Can Paddy and Digger out-think each other’s thinking by thinking like each other? Will Spiro finally give up on home-ground advantage logic and tip with his heart? Will I contradict myself? Does EP’s tip even count this weekend?
Regardless, my sincere thanks to the experts for taking part in the tipping panel for 2015, and for their continued enthusiasm along the way. The tipping panel has proved to be a massive success for the site over the two years, and indeed, the strength on the rugby panel was the reason the AFL and NRL panels were also launched this year.
So again, thanks to my colleagues, and thanks to everyone’s continued reading.
The big questions for the final: can the Hurricanes ride this wave one more time in 2015? Can the Highlanders become just the second team to win a Super Rugby title from fourth place? And just the fifth team to win a final away from home?
Can the Hurricanes overcome the niggling injuries that remain for some key players (Beauden Barrett, Julian and Ardie Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Cory Jane, etc)? Are the Highlanders the Super Rugby equivalent of the little engine that could?
A very nervous Diggercane
“Finally! We get to host a final at long last! So excited, can’t wait!
“I believe the Hurricanes will win because I feel that they have more big match experience and with the home crowd behind them they should have too much in the tank for what I expect will be a valiant challenge from the Highlanders.
“But as history has shown us and though there’s always room for a first, winning three knock-out matches in a row has proved a bridge too far.
“Paddy knows I will pick the Hurricanes, is he going to cop out or go for glory? The suspense…”
Tip: Hurricanes, rather unsurprisingly.
An unenthusiastic Paddy Effeney
“Meh. We all know who’s going to win anyway. I’ll take the premiers plate and equal grand final winner. We all know this really stopped after the regular season.
“Canes will win. Powerplay on them. #Analysis
“Well played, Digger.”
Tip: Hurricanes
Elisha Pearce
“The Hurricanes are going to win the final. That’s the safe pick, but I’m not going to catch anyone, or fall behind anyway. My powerplay won’t shock anyone; I’ll stick that on the Canes too.
“The Hurricanes are just too fast and powerful for the Highlanders, who flash elements of that but don’t carry on with it quite as well.
“The template for a Highlanders victory is actually similar to what they did against the Waratahs in Sydney. Add a dash of kicking and field position to their game and make the most of a few opportunities.
“But the Hurricanes are tougher to execute against. They’ll run back more kicks, they won’t drop the ball as often, and they have better tactical kickers to deploy in return.
“Hopefully this is one of the best finals in years. The teams we have on offer make that a real possibility.”
Tip: Hurricanes
Brett McKay
So let me declare this upfront: I think the Hurricanes will win on Saturday night, and it will be well deserved. However…
As I said last week, this is business. Spiro will tip the Hurricanes, because his default position is the home side. Even when he says the away team is better, he talks himself back to the home team. And me tipping the Hurricanes obviously doesn’t help my cause.
Therefore, I’m tipping the Highlanders, and here’s why: the Highlanders have won the last four games between these sides at the Cake Tin. But that’s not all; I have an even bigger ace up the sleeve.
And here it comes; not the ace of hearts, or the ace of spades, but the ace of MO-MEN-TUM. I’m six and six this season when putting the Powerplay on the ‘Landers, all of them coming since Round 12, including five of the last seven weeks and the last three weeks straight.
They’ve served me well over the last month and beyond, and it only seems fair that if I’m to make a final charge up the ladder – one spot, or maybe two on a countback – that I do that while backing the Highlanders all the way.
Come on, you good things!
Tip: Highlanders
Spiro Zavos
“I am picking the Hurricanes to beat the Highlanders in the Super Rugby 2015 final. The Hurricanes have been the best team in the tournament and they are playing at home.
Brett’s note: SEE?!?
“But given my record for predicting I have probably given this terrific side the Zavos kiss of death.”
Tip: Hurricanes
The summary
| Semi Finals | Diggercane | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 98 | 98 | 93 | 95 | 93 |
| Last week | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| HUR v HIG | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Highlanders | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |
| POWERPLAY | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Highlanders | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |