Rugby: Chiefs to bring the grunt up front

All Blacks and Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris is expecting a massive test against the Hurricanes in Saturday night's Super Rugby semifinal.

A test match intensity with no love lost either way.

That is how Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris is describing Saturday night's Super Rugby semifinal showdown in Wellington against the Hurricanes.

"It has pretty much felt like we played South Africa last week and now we are playing the All Blacks," Harris said.

"Every semi or quarter-final in Super Rugby, and even in the pool play, it is pretty much like a test match week in and week out.

"It is going to be a real tough match-up from player to player. It is pretty equal so it will be a humdinger of a clash."

The Chiefs have travelled back from Cape Town in South Africa after Sunday morning's outstanding 60-21 thrashing of the Stormers.

The long haul flight has played havoc with players' body clocks and preparation ahead of Saturday's clash in the Capital.

But Harris is not having any suggestion it will affect their preparation.

"It is going to be tough but, to be honest, we don't talk about the travel factor. That is more mental than physical, so you have to switch on."

Harris says speeding up the game was what worked well against the Stormers.

"The tempo of the ball we played with was key. We were trying to run them round as we know they are big boys who like to go from set piece to set piece.

"So we got to lineouts quickly, keeping the ball alive with off-loads, spreading them wide and making them run around a lot more. That was the big thing, I guess."

The Chiefs beat the Hurricanes 28-27 in Wellington in round nine back in April. Both teams are full of attacking brilliance but Harris says that only comes after the hard work is done up front.

"I guess it all starts from set piece and that's the nuts and bolts of it.

"We need to get in there and make some nice big tackles and just try and slow their ball down and play our game to the best that we can do.

"In every team the bench is pretty important and can be the difference between winning and losing the game. All Kiwi teams play exactly the same sort of brand of footy that is nice and expansive."

The Hurricanes have lost their captain and Harris's All Blacks team-mate Dane Coles to a rib injury.

Harris thinks his loss may be felt more in the on-field leadership than in the set pieces.

" I don't really think it will weaken their scrum too much.

"They have Ricky Riccitelli there who is a big boy and pretty good at the set piece and loves to carry the ball.

"They won't lose too much there but it is more around their leadership that Colesy brings. It opens a window for other players to step up in their team."

Super Rugby semifinals:

* Hurricanes v Chiefs, Wellington: Saturday July 30, 7.35pm
* Lions v Highlanders, Johannesburg: Sunday July 31, 1am (NZ time)