Super Rugby Pacific: Chiefs hopeful of Blues upset in quest to host grand final

Former top seeds the Chiefs are hoping their qualifying-final vanquishers the Blues can do them a massive favour and steer the Super Rugby Pacific final back to Hamilton.

Replacement Blues lock Josh Beehre scored the 84th-minute, match-winning try, which saw the defending champions claim a 20-19 win over the Chiefs to keep their season alive.

As the Chiefs finished top of the standings, they still advanced to the semifinals as the lucky losers, but the defeat means the road to the title runs through the Crusaders and Christchurch, who move into the top qualifiers spot and host the Blues on Friday.

For the Chiefs to host the final in two weeks, the Blues will need to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch and the Chiefs will need to beat the ACT Brumbies, who knocked out the Hurricanes in Canberra.

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is hoping the Blues can help their North Island neighbours out.

“We probably did the Blues a bit of a favour last year by winning a semifinal, so maybe they could do the same,” McMillan said.

“But we will just worry about ourselves and the rest will take care of itself.”

McMillan was quick to dismiss claims his side were complacent, knowing the Chiefs would have a home semifinal regardless of the result.

The Chiefs were leading by 13 points in the second half before the Blues roared back and took the lead with the final kick of the game as Beauden Barrett converted Beehre’s try.

“We wanted to win this game and put the Blues to be bed, because, you know, wins like this will just fuel more confidence,” McMillan said.

“It’s always what is directly in front of us. I think we have been pretty consistent with that and our preparation, the effort we put in ... was reflective of a team that really wanted to win.”

Meanwhile, Blues coach Vern Cotter knows his side will have to create history against the Crusaders if they are to reach the final.

Since Super Rugby’s inception in 1996, the Crusaders have never lost a playoffs game at home, with a 30-0 record.

“Nothing lasts forever, so it’s just our job to prepare as best we can, and it’ll be what will be,” Cotter said. “We’ll certainly be determined to back the performance up this week.

“They’re a tough team, but one day they’ll lose down there in the playoffs – and if it can be against us, well, we’ll be certainly pushing as best we can for that.

“It may come down to the 85th minute again next week.”

The Blues only have six days to prepare for the clash, but Cotter wouldn’t want it any other way.

“The six-day turnaround is good for us,” said Cotter. “No time to sit around and dawdle.

“It’s recovery, keeping that cohesion, excitement. What I saw this week was enjoyment, being together and creating something.

“We’ll get straight back into it on Monday, low-intensity Tuesday, day off Wednesday, speed it up, then fly Thursday. Not a lot of time to ask questions.”

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.