Rugby: Battle for hearts, minds as Chiefs and Canes claim home advantage

Stadium Taranaki: a Hurricanes fortress or a Chiefs cauldron? Photo / Mark Mitchell

Call it neutral territory.

The Hurricanes used to label New Plymouth and the Taranaki region as "home" but after years of perceived neglect, the province threw their lot in with the Chiefs ahead of the 2014 Super Rugby campaign.

The Chiefs have responded by taking high-profile games to New Plymouth, something the Hurricanes rarely did, and tonight's blockbuster between two of the competition's best teams is another example of that.

Optimistic types might have looked at this fixture earlier in the season and forecast it as a game that could decide New Zealand conference honours.

But the Hurricanes kept winning and the Chiefs couldn't catch up and we are left with a match that has a fair bit riding on it for the Chiefs but little for the Hurricanes.

Coach Chris Boyd's Hurricanes have locked up top spot and will play at home during the playoffs. They also have a bye to start to the finals next week. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are chasing home advantage for their knockout match next week.

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline around the game is who will have the groundswell of support given the historical links that many Taranaki people hold with the Hurricanes.

"We haven't talked about reclaiming our land or anything of that nature," Boyd said. "So that hasn't been part of our build-up."

Both franchises boast players who turned out for Taranaki during their successful ITM Cup campaign last year and injured Hurricanes first-five Beauden Barrett is viewed as royalty in the province.

Barrett has a minor calf strain, and is expected to return for the playoffs.

Hurricanes flanker Callum Gibbins, who grew up in Inglewood in Taranaki but plays for Manawatu at provincial level, expected to have plenty of support tomorrow.

"It's exciting, that's for sure," Gibbins said. "I still think we've got a lot of support up there and I've got a lot of family up there. So it's going to be really cool."

Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree, a proud Taranaki man, said this week that his mates would all be supporting his side.

Given the debate around who would garner more support, logic suggests New Plymouth should host a derby between these two sides in future seasons.

On the field, Boyd said he had some clear goals around what he wanted to get out of the game following last week's 56-20 romp over the Highlanders in Napier.

"The bit that we were disappointed about last week was the 20-odd we gave up to the Highlanders," Boyd said.

"If a team plays well and scores points against you, but has to earn them, then that's no issue it's just part of the game. But those points were soft and that was disappointing."

Boyd has shuffled his forward pack for tonight to manage the workloads of some of his busiest players. Cory Jane will make his return on the wing after overcoming a hamstring injury.

In Barrett's absence, Taranaki skipper James Marshall will play first five-eighths.