Chiefs Stun ‘Canes to Face Blues in Super Rugby Final In a thrilling Super Rugby semifinal clash, the Waikato Chiefs defied the odds to upset the previously unbeaten Canterbury Hurricanes 27-22 in Christchurch. The Chiefs, who had not won in Christchurch since 2015, showcased their tenacity and resilience throughout the match. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, were left stunned by the unexpected defeat, which shattered their hopes of a record-breaking season. The first half was a tight affair, with both teams trading penalties and the score locked at 6-6. However, the Chiefs struck first blood in the second half when hooker Nathan Harris crashed over for a try. The Hurricanes responded through a scintillating solo effort by Jordie Barrett, but the Chiefs refused to be rattled. They regained the lead through a try by winger Emoni Narawa, which was converted by Damian McKenzie. As the game entered its final quarter, the Hurricanes launched a desperate assault on the Chiefs’ line. However, the Chiefs’ defense held firm, and they were able to seal the victory with a late try by lock Brodie Retallick. The result means that the Chiefs will face the Auckland Blues in the Super Rugby final on May 18th at Eden Park. The Blues had earlier booked their place in the final with a comfortable 20-7 victory over the Wellington Hurricanes. The Chiefs’ victory is a testament to their character and determination. After a disappointing start to the season, they have rallied under the guidance of head coach Clayton McMillan and will now have a chance to claim their first Super Rugby title since 2012. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, will be left to rue their missed opportunities. Despite dominating the regular season, they were unable to translate that form into the semifinals. They will now need to regroup and focus on securing a top-four finish in the final round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.Waikato Chiefs Triumph in Super Rugby Pacific Semi-FinalWaikato Chiefs Triumph in Super Rugby Pacific Semi-Final The Waikato Chiefs stunned the Wellington Hurricanes with an early double blow and held on to secure a thrilling 30-19 victory in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final. This sets up an all-New Zealand title decider against the Auckland Blues. Number eight Wallace Sititi delivered an outstanding performance, while flyhalf Damian McKenzie contributed 15 points with a perfect afternoon from the kicking tee. The Chiefs recorded their first away win in a Super Rugby playoff on their fifth attempt. To secure their third Super Rugby title next Saturday at Eden Park, the Chiefs must repeat their feat against the Blues, who defeated the ACT Brumbies 34-20 in the first semi-final. Luke Jacobson, the Chiefs’ skipper, praised their game plan: “I think we had a really good plan over the week and we just came out here and we trusted it.” Sititi’s performance impressed Jacobson: “(Wallace) took it to another level, he’s a special kid and he’s got a huge future.” The Hurricanes, who topped the regular season standings and aimed for their second Super Rugby title, struggled at the breakdown and failed to reach their full potential in attack. The Chiefs dominated the opening minutes, scoring two tries within the first six minutes. Samipeni Finau grabbed the first, followed by a try from halfback Cortez Ratima. McKenzie converted both tries and added a penalty to extend the lead to 17-0. Peter Lakai put the Hurricanes on the scoreboard, but the Chiefs continued to pressure their opponents. Ratima appeared to have scored a second try, but it was called back for a foul. McKenzie added another penalty after the break to widen the gap to 20-7. The Hurricanes regained some momentum with a try from Brett Cameron, but Sititi intercepted and raced towards the try line. Daniel Rona eventually touched down for a converted try. McKenzie’s third penalty in the 66th minute proved too much for the Hurricanes, who responded with a late try from Billy Proctor. Brad Shields, the Hurricanes’ captain, expressed disappointment: “We’re just really gutted because we were extremely proud of what we’ve achieved this season. We just couldn’t get there tonight, which is tough to take.”Chiefs upset the Hurricanes 25-13 in the Super Rugby semi-final to book a place in the final against the Blues. After conceding an early try to the Hurricanes, the Chiefs hit back with three tries of their own to take a 19-10 lead into the break. The Hurricanes came out firing in the second half, but could only manage three more points as the Chiefs held them at bay to secure their place in the final. The Chiefs were led by their brilliant backline, who were able to create space and score tries at crucial moments. Damian McKenzie was particularly impressive, scoring a try and setting up another. The Blues will be looking to avenge their loss to the Chiefs in the final, which will be held in Auckland next weekend. The Blues have been in impressive form all season, and will be confident of beating the Chiefs at home.