Hurricanes’ easy equation
THE Hurricanes have not lain awake at night doing sums to determine their Super Rugby playoffs chances.
They know three wins from the final three regular season games will be enough to get them into the playoffs. They know they could probably afford to drop one game and still make it, but any more and the noose will tighten.
So that means tonight’s home match against the Blues assumes vital importance, after the sweet victory over the Highlanders at the end of May. Lose that and they will need to lower both the Waratahs and Crusaders away to guarantee their berth as one of the top wildcards.
“Our All Blacks know all about their All Blacks. Our guys know all about their guys,” says Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd. “The Blues are chock-full of quality players. They are more than capable as a team and as individuals.”
Unlike the Chiefs and Crusaders, Boyd has included all five of his All Blacks in the starting XV.
“I don’t think any of them wanted a rest and we were keen for them to play, so they are playing.”
The burden of driving the game plan was removed from the likes of TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett early in the week, but only hooker and captain Dane Coles saw extensive minutes in the series against Wales.
As is often the case in the week after the June window, media attention turned to the schedule and the draw, with the general agreement that playing New Zealand sides twice is sapping, albeit enjoyable. Both Boyd and Coles said the draw “is what it is”.
But Boyd answered honestly: “There’s possibly a bigger picture with the conference system. My preference would be to play everyone once, but all know what it is and all just get on with it.”
Reg Goodes will fancy having a crack at new All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi in the scrums, while the battle between Victor Vito and Steven Luatua, two top lineout forwards, will be instructive.
Japan-bound Cory Jane will have his hands full with Highlanders-bound Tevita Li. Hooker Motu Matu’u broke his arm playing for Samoa, so Ricky Riccitelli will be the back-up.
The Hurricanes defeated the Blues 23-19 at Eden Park on March 11. The Blues have had issues, but showed their mettle in a narrow defeat on May 28.
Meanwhile, Brad Shields is refreshed, mentally as much as physically, as he contemplates a vital last three regular season matches with the Hurricanes, starting tonight.
The 24-year-old loose forward was consistency personified for the franchise prior to the June window and he is now ready for the final push in a log-jammed New Zealand Super Rugby conference.
“It’s always a tough one, having a break after gaining a little bit of momentum, but you still have to tick the [training] boxes,” says Shields, who fitted in a game with his Petone club, and a friendly against the Rebels in Melbourne last week.
Shields was understandably not wanting to enter the debate on national rankings of players who can play six or eight. Team is paramount for him.
Boyd is unsure of where Shields fits into the bigger picture, but is crystal-clear on what he brings to the Hurricanes.
“I’m not exactly sure what the All Blacks are looking for in their loose forwards, but Brad does an amazing job for us in combination with Ardie and Victor. His skillset definitely fits our loose trio. He just has to continue knocking on the door and sooner or later that consistent form should be rewarded,” says Boyd. “Brad brings a relentless, ruthless edge. He’s a smart player and accurate.”