Preview: Hurricanes v Highlanders

The Hurricanes versus Highlanders Super Rugby Final on Saturday "is going to be brutal" and could damage New Zealand's World Cup strength, according to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

But he admits he wouldn't have it any other way with Southern Hemisphere supremacy at stake.

The Hurricanes, with 12 current All Blacks in their squad, compared to five with the Highlanders, have been installed as favourites by the pragmatists for the sold-out game in Wellington.

Romantics, however, are backing the Highlanders who field a band of nobodies with a never-say-die attitude.

In what will be an emotional encounter – neither side has previously won the title – several senior players, including Hurricanes figureheads Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu, will be playing their last Super Rugby match.

"It's going to be a real brutal game," said Hansen, whose finals' experience as assistant coach of the seven-time champion Crusaders in 2000 fuels his trepidation about the risk of injury to key All Blacks ahead of the World Cup beginning in September.

"Whilst I'm excited about it being two New Zealand teams, there is a little bit of holding your breath because you don't want any of those young men to get injured – or anyone for that matter – but not the 17 because they are earmarked to come in and play some of these Test matches that we've got to play before we go to the World Cup.

"But watching the two teams play, it's going to be brutal.

"There's no way you can expect anyone to hold back. You can't. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for both teams. The emotion of it will play a big part."

The last two teams standing were the best-performing  attacking sides in the regular season with the Hurricanes heading the try-scoring list with 62, one more than the Highlanders.

But championships are often won on defence where the 'Canes were second best to the Brumbies side in the regular season, but the Highlanders had the worst defensive record of the top six qualifiers.

The Highlanders have since conceded only three tries as they outsmarted the Chiefs and Waratahs in the play-offs.

Defence coach Scott McLeod said they had a "big day" on Tuesday working on a strategy to counter the Hurricanes.

"They've got threats across the park. You give them too much space and they will make the most of that with their running, offloading and continuity play. So we need to be able to shut that all down," said McLeod.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are sweating on the fitness of Ardie Savea, a central figure in their attacking drive, who is suffering from a leg injury and has been bracketed with Callum Gibbins for the No.7 jersey.

The winner will be the eighth franchise to wear the Super Rugby crown since the game turned professional 20 year ago in 1996 and the fourth from New Zealand – following the Crusaders (seven championships), the Blues (three) and Chiefs (two).

Three Australian sides have claimed the title – the Brumbies (two), the Waratahs (one) and Reds (one).

The Bulls (three) are the only winners from South Africa in the professional era.

Queensland (twice – 1994 and 1995) and Transvaal (once – 1993) were Super Rugby winners in the amateur era.

Players to watch:

For the Hurricanes: Before kick-off all eyes will be on Ardie Savea, to see if he passes a late fitness test. However, once the match is underway you have a team full of quality players – most notably backline stars like Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara. Victor Vito's running skills, the hard work of Brad Shields, as well as the lock partnership of James Broadhurst and Jeremy Thrush are key forwards.

For the Highlanders: You start with the Smiths – Ben and Aaron – for their silky skills. Then you will look to see how hard-running wing Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne cope with the occasion. Lima Sopoaga will be another key back. Nasi Manu's strength, Elliot Dixon's workrate, Mark Reddish's muscle and Liam Coltman's all-action game will add further value to the visitors.

Head to head: There will be All Black versus All Black battles all over the park. But the most interesting of these will be in midfield – the experience of Conrad Smith (Hurricanes) versus the guile of Malakai Fekitoa. Julian Savea (Hurricanes left wing) and Waisake Naholo (Highlanders right wing) will be like two runaway trains on a collision course. At scrumhalf there's another big duel – TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) versus Aaron Smith (Highlanders). Victor Vito (Hurricanes) and Nasi Manu Highlanders) are two big ball-carrying No.8s, while the second row showdown between James Broadhurst (Hurricanes) and Mark Reddish (Highlanders) will also be an intriguing encounter.

Recent results:

2015: Hurricanes won 56-20, Wellington

2015: Hurricanes won 20-13, Dunedin

2014: Highlanders won 18-16, Wellington

2014: Highlanders won 35-31, Dunedin

2013: Highlanders won 49-44, Wellington

2013: Hurricanes won 23-19, Dunedin

2012: Hurricanes won 26-20, Dunedin

2012: Highlanders won 19-17, Wellington

2011: Highlanders won 13-6, Invercargill

2011: Highlanders won 14-9, Wellington

Road to the Final:

Prediction: The Hurricanes have won two in a row against the Highlanders, with their most recent meeting in June representing their largest ever win against the men from Dunedin (56-20). The Highlanders have been victorious in each of their last four trips to Wellington (that June clash was played in Napier). Before the Highlanders were humbled 56-20 by the 'Canes in Round 17, each of the previous 13 meetings between these sides were settled by seven or fewer points. Since losing to the Highlanders in Round 14 of the 2014 season, the Hurricanes have won 10 of 11 home games. None of the Highlanders' last seven games have been settled by single figure margins. Both these sides lost their sole appearances in the Super Rugby Final; both at the hands of the Crusaders. Just four sides have averaged fewer carries than the Highlanders this season (96.2).  The Hurricanes have made the most per game (126.1). The Highlanders have averaged the second most kicks from hand this season (25.4), the Canes the third least (18.2). The Highlanders have averaged 136 tackle attempts per game this year, the fourth highest figure of its kind. The Hurricanes have averaged 142, the second highest total. The Hurricanes' line-out success rate (81 percent) is the 13th best figure in the competition, while the Highlanders' (89 percent) is the third best. Waisake Naholo leads the try-scoring charts this year with 12 touchdowns including three in his last two appearances. TJ Perenara is the only other player to hit double figures for tries this year with 11. The Hurricanes have scored the most (19) and conceded the joint fewest (seven) tries in the final quarter of matches. The Highlanders lead the way for tries in the second (20) and third quarters (20). Yes, it will be brutal, but also very entertaining. The Hurricanes to edge the Highlanders in a high-scoring affair – by seven or less.

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea/Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reggie Goodes.

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Callum Gibbins/Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 Matt Proctor.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Brendon Edmonds.

Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Shane Christie, 22 Fumiaki Tanaka, 23 Marty Banks.

Date: Saturday, July 4

Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)

Weather: Friday's rain will make way for some sun and cloudy periods. The winds to turn northwest. High of 13°C and low of 7°C

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Craig Joubert (South Africa)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Compiled by Jan de Koning, with additional reporting from Agence France-Presse

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