Hurricanes hope to turn back the clock

Break? What break?

You and I might think Super Rugby disappeared for a few weeks – as test footy took centre stage – but it depends on who you talk to. Turns out teams such as the Hurricanes have decided that the only way they can pick up where they left off, is to pretend they never actually did let off.

The Hurricanes resume their Super Rugby season on Saturday, when they host the Blues at Westpac Stadium. Their schedule says they haven’t played since May 27, but they’re telling themselves it was nothing like that long ago.

‘‘We’re just going to treat it as the week after the Highlanders,’’ blindside flanker Brad Shields said yesterday.

Shields was among the tryscorers as the Hurricanes beat the Highlanders 27-20, on May 27, with their most complete and controlled performance of the season. Momentum is critical to any successful campaign, but the June test window immediately robbed the Hurricanes of that.

‘‘Going into the break with a win and having a few weeks off is pretty difficult,’’ said Shields.

‘‘It almost feels like the season’s starting again, so that’s why we’ve got to look at it as the week following the Highlanders and just prepare as if we haven’t been away. I know it’s hard to do, but that’s professional sport and sometimes you’ve got to adjust to those conditions.’’

The Hurricanes, who sit third in the New Zealand conference and sixth overall in Super Rugby, have three games left in their regular season. And just as they’ve adopted a particular mentality for what’s been, Shields says they have another for what’s to come.

‘‘We’re looking at it as if every game’s a playoff.’’