Clayton McMillan says his Chiefs team will travel to Christchurch for their Super Rugby Pacific grand final against the Crusaders without any fear after winning their semifinal against the Brumbies last night.
The men from Canberra competed well against the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium until their lineout began to self-destruct and home favourite Damian McKenzie’s influence grew, the Chiefs running out 37-17 winners to set up a dream final after the Crusaders qualified by holding off the Blues the previous night 21-14.
"We don’t have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," said McMillan.
"We’re one team that have had our fair share of success down there. But we know it’s not going to be easy. They have a formidable record and are a quality team.
"They demonstrated that last night when the showed real composure when the Blues were inching their way back into the game.
"You’ve got to take every opportunity when it presents itself and the best team on the day will win."
The Chiefs have enjoyed comfortable home and away wins over the Crusaders this season but are aware that a grand final is very different to a round-robin match.
After losing the last two grand finals – to Scott Robertson’s Crusaders in Hamilton in 2023 and the Blues at Eden Park last year – they are also aware of their recent lack of success at this point in the season.
"We’ve never shied away from the fact that we’ve been in the last two finals – three finals now – and haven’t got the job done," McMillan said.
“There are only going to be a be a couple of headlines next week – 'Chiefs fail to do the job again' or 'Chiefs finally get it done'
"I think one of our Achilles [heel] in the past is that we’ve wanted something so badly we that it becomes a little detrimental — you try a little too hard.
"We just have to back ourselves and do what we’ve done all year — play Chiefs rugby, work hard for each other, nail the small moments, apply enough pressure on the Crusaders… if you win enough of those you give yourselves a good chance to walk away with the title."
A added wrinkle is the Crusaders' phenomenal record in home playoffs, which now stands at 31-0. They have also won a total of 12 Super Rugby championships and two Super Rugby Aotearoa titles. The Chiefs have won two in total — in 2012 and 2013 under former head coach Dave Rennie.
The final will be McMillan’s last match as Chiefs head coach before he departs for his new role in charge of Munster in Ireland and he admitted he spent a little extra time after last night’s final whistle soaking it all in.
Beyond the signing of autographs, an enduring image will likely be the way the Chiefs pulled away via a 20-minute second-half assault which featured tries from wing Emoni Narawa (his second) and replacement fullback Josh Jacomb, along with two penalties from McKenzie.
It was cold and calculating response to a bright start from the Brumbies who were still in the game after halftime thanks to Corey Toole’s second try, and it was built in the image of McMillan himself: Tough, unrelenting and unsentimental. He may have allowed himself some time last night but is unlikely to ahead of next Saturday night's blockbuster.
For the Brumbies, who lost Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolosio after 11 minutes due to a failed head injury assessment, the writing was on the wall during that second-half blitz.
Head coach Stephen Larkham said: "There became a point there where we were obviously chasing the game. We were trying to hold the ball to score and it’s tough conditions to do that here."
McKenzie, who kicked eight from nine shots at goal, was disappointed with his defensive effort in the lead up to Toole's second try but made up for it with a try-saver as Brumbies fullback Tom Wright threatened to score one of the tries of the season.
"The desperation, the hustle and just the nous to get your hand under the ball and prevent that one was a phenomenal effort," McMillan said.
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