[VIDEO] Super Rugby final highlights, scores, blog: Hurricanes vs Highlanders

MATCH RESULT:

The Highlanders have claimed their first Super Rugby title with a 21-14 win over the heavily-favoured Hurricanes at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium.

>> MATCH REPORT: Highlanders claim Super Rugby crown in massive upset

The Hurricanes came within 4 points of the Highlanders late in the match, leading to brief hope of a resurgence, but the Highlanders maintained their lead all day.

A drop goal in the 78th minute saw them take a seven point lead and make the win a certainty.

Hurricanes 14 def. by Highlanders 21

MATCH PREVIEW:

Welcome to the last game of Super Rugby in its current form, the Super Rugby final. Following an against-the-odds win in Sydney, the Highlanders fly to Wellington to face the best performing team in the tournament in the Hurricanes.

Can they deliver another upset today? Join us here on The Roar from 5:35pm (AEST) for live scores and updates.

It couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of people. Harry Jones mentioned in a friendly banter among friends over email – ‘there’s no villain in this game’. This is a match between season underdogs. At the start of the season, Diggercane had already resigned himself to another average result from his beloved Hurricanes, who finished seventh last year. The Highlanders finished one place above.

What’s not to like? These teams deliver a high-octane, high-scoring game while delivering superb defence and set piece. This final should be a grand spectacle.

Whereas ‘bad guys’ may not be playing, there may be three people on the paddock who are not always popular: match official Jaco Peyper assisted by Craig Joubert and Glen Jackson. For those concerned with neutral referees: While Jackson is from Manawatu, which is technically a Hurricanes catchment. In reality, many of the Manawatu players have ended playing for the Highlanders. The best example is Aaron Smith.

Aaron ‘Nugget’ Smith has been one of the most dangerous players in Super Rugby. He is much like the naval destroyer.

His attack is very fast, armed with an array of short range and long range weapons, working in concert with the rest his team of long range invaders. But he is not alone. The attack variety offered by his backline is superseded only by the Hurricanes. Nugget’s doppelganger TJ Perenara is the second highest try scorer of the competition.

It is especially true for New Zealnd teams that the halves play a crucial role in winning games for their teams.

For example, the injury to flyhalf Aaron Cruden contributed significantly to the Chiefs’ drop in form. Today, the contest will be between All Black regular Beauden Barrett versus Lima Sopoaga will be telling. Sopoaga is four points shy from delivering the most points this year.

Perhaps the only player who may have a ‘bad rep’, is the best inside centre in the world – Ma’a Nonu. He is known for his shoulder charges as well as his arsenal in both attack and defence. His return to his birthplace has been a godsend both for him and his team. This will be his last game in New Zealand, as he travels to Toulon next year, to join Wallabies like Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell.

The Hurricanes and Highlanders are bristled with attacking line-ups. Julian ‘The Bus’ Savea versus tough man Patrick Osborne, both of whom have scored eight tries so far this year. Nonu versus Richard Buckman. Old bull Conrad Smith versus young buck Malakai Fiketoa. Firebrand Nehe Milner-Skudder versus All Black finisher Ben Smith.

The real hero of this match will be the underdogs forwards. Other than Dan Coles and Victor Vito, there’s many All Blacks in the team. While still only 21 years old, Ardie Savea will look to press the New Zealand selectors for a spot in the All Blacks squad, considering his form in attack and defence.

But it’s not just him. The Hurricanes’ defence is one of the best in business, reflecting their Captain’s Conrad Smith’s expert defensive capability. The Highlanders have conceded more points, ranking fourth highest in missed tackles his year.

They will look forward to more lineouts, having the second best in the competition, while the Hurricanes are among the worst. This may be very critical. While the Hurricanes have thumped them by almost forty points this year, it was in Napier – not in Wellington.

The last time the Hurricanes beat the Highlanders in Wellington is over six years ago, in 2009. The bookies have them at a distinct advantage to break that home ground Highlander hoodoo. There might be 35,000 people who will witness on stage today.

To deliver another upset, Jamie Joseph has to deliver another coaching masterpiece. He mentioned he has some specific ideas about how to nail the Hurricanes point scoring machine back. We are all very curious how he will go about doing so.

Game on!