u/Powerful-Pressure312

The Super Rugby Final was the biggest game of the New Zealand rugby season. It was played in Wellington, in awful conditions, in front of a packed stadium. If there's one game where you expect players to stand up and prove they deserve an All Blacks jersey, surely it's the final.

Watching that game, I thought it was pretty obvious who the best team in the country was. The Hurricanes were better almost everywhere. They won the physical battle, controlled the game, made fewer mistakes in the conditions, and deserved the title. The Chiefs just never really looked like they were in it.

The one Chiefs player I thought really stood out was Samipeni Finau. He kept turning up and competing when a lot of others struggled.

Which is why I'm struggling to understand the All Blacks selections.

The Chiefs' starting XV included:

• Ollie Norris ✅
• Samisoni Taukei'aho ✅
• Josh Lord ✅
• Tupou Vaa'i ✅
• Luke Jacobson ✅
• Simon Parker ✅
• Cortez Ratima ✅
• Damian McKenzie ✅
• Quinn Tupaea ✅
• Leroy Carter ✅

That's 10 All Blacks from a team that was well beaten in the biggest game of the season.

I'm not saying you pick an All Blacks squad based on one match. A whole season matters. But if the final the highest-pressure game of the year doesn't carry significant weight, then what does?

Am I the only one who feels like selections are starting to be based more on reputation than who's actually performing when it matters most?

Genuinely interested to hear other people's views.

I honestly don't get it.

This morning I was hearing people talk about Ruben Love as if he's been lucky. Lucky? Have a look at what this Hurricanes team has just achieved.

The Hurricanes didn't just win Super Rugby Pacific in 2026 they rewrote the record books. They finished the season by demolishing the Chiefs 60–5 in the Grand Final, the biggest winning margin in Super Rugby final history.

They also set or equalled a number of competition records:

• Biggest Grand Final victory in Super Rugby history.

• Most team tries in a season – 113.

• Most team points in a season – 745.

• Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby both finished with 17 tries, equalling the all-time individual season record.

• Eight matches scoring 50+ points.

• Record finals victories throughout the playoffs.

At some point, we need to stop defaulting to the same names and start rewarding performance.

How can a team dominate the competition like this and people still talk as if not many of their players deserve All Blacks consideration?

The All Blacks should be built around the players who are setting the standard right now, not just those who have been there before.

Instead of finding reasons why Hurricanes players shouldn't be picked, New Zealand rugby fans should be excited. A young, attacking, New Zealand-based team has just produced one of the greatest seasons Super Rugby has ever seen.

That's not something to downplay.

That's something to be proud of.

New Zealand rugby is in a great place when a team can produce a season like this. We should be celebrating it and using that form as a platform for the future, not dismissing it because the players wear a Hurricanes jersey.

Whether it's Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Fehi Fineanganofo, or others, these players have earned the right to be seriously considered on performance.

Form should matter.

Results should matter.

And after one of the most dominant seasons Super Rugby has ever seen, Hurricanes players have given New Zealand rugby plenty of reasons to be excited about what's next.

Huge weekend in Super Rugby Pacific semis! These two were on another level.

Cam Roigard (Hurricanes) The halfback was everywhere in the big win over the Blues. Quick service, sharp running (79m off 6 carries, clean breaks, defenders beaten), a try of his own, and that quick-tap magic to keep the momentum rolling. Controversial to some, but the guy just plays at a high tempo. Absolute menace from 9.

Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) The architect in the Chiefs' victory over the Crusaders. Milestone game (150th for the Chiefs!), clinical kicking, tries, vision, and just pure class at 10/15. He’s been unstoppable lately – pinpoint passes, big plays, and leadership. DMac doing DMac things.

Hurricanes-Chiefs final is going to be Heavy!

#SuperRugbyPacific #AllBlacks #Hurricanes #Chiefs