Canes concentrate on win so they can go to Canberra

Campbell Burnes

Expect a slightly more circumspect Hurricanes for what will likely be their last home game of 2017 tomorrow night against the unbeaten Crusaders.

That tweaking of approach is the realisation they only have to win, rather than pursue a bonus point, to finish fifth on the ladder and thus qualify for a quarter-final in Canberra.

Winning sounds straightforward enough were it not for the fact they are facing the competition leaders, who will be anxious to qualify top and thus guarantee home advantage through to the final.

The Hurricanes have kicked just eight penalty goals all season, a competition low, but they might need a couple tomorrow night to keep their noses in front.

“We just need to be more patient and clinical in some areas. We’ve worked on that this week,” says centre Vince Aso.

“We have to build phases and get in the right areas through our game drivers.”

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd recalls a cold May night in Christchurch when his charges lost 20-12, “played too much rugby and our set-piece didn’t function too well”.

“We expect whoever they roll out will be tough this weekend, so getting some sort of parity at set-piece has been a focus.”

The front-line Hurricanes’ All Blacks have been swiftly re-installed after missing the franchise’s 31-all draw with the British and Irish Lions. Beauden Barrett was the only one who saw extensive game time in that test series, and he was excused training on Where and when Reserves Monday, but will resume at first-five. As ever, Boyd was unsure who would be assuming the goalkicking duties, but he did, tongue in cheek, narrow it down to either Beauden or Jordie Barrett. Expect Beauden to tee up, as he did the honours in the Lions test series, and is poised on 994 Super Rugby points.

Ngani Laumape and Aso are still locked on 14 competition tries apiece in 2017, one behind the all-time record of Joe Roff and Rico Gear.