Rugby: Broadhurst looking to step up

Lock James Broadhurst has re-signed with the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty

There will be a big hole in the Hurricanes' second-row next season and James Broadhurst is aiming to fill it.

Veteran lock Jeremy Thrush, who played his 100th game of Super Rugby during the weekend, will head to Gloucester after the World Cup, which takes away the most senior lineout operator in the side and also takes a person out of the leadership group.

Broadhurst announced today he had re-signed with the Hurricanes for a further two years and the lure of being a key figure in the Hurricanes, and potentially an All Black, kept him in the capital.

"I'm still reasonably young as a tight forward - 27 years old - so you'd like to think I've got a few years in me in New Zealand," he said.

He has one more season on his provincial contract with Taranaki but nothing is confirmed after that with regards to the ITM Cup.

"I'm just focused on this year at the moment, so I'll worry about that when it comes to it," he said.

At 2.01m and 122kg, his imposing frame looks built for the test arena and 2015 has been his most consistent campaign in Super Rugby.

He is part of the new breed of Hurricanes forwards that have developed under technical coach Richard Watt in recent seasons, alongside the likes of Ardie Savea, Brad Shields Reggie Goodes and Dane Coles.

While the Hurricanes will lose a wealth of experience next year with the impending departures of Thrush, Ben Franks, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu, they're in a good place with a number of men who have played Super Rugby for a few years.

The Hurricanes suffered their first defeat of 2015 after they were toppled 29-24 by the Waratahs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday but they remained at the top of the table courtesy of securing two bonus points.

Hurricanes assistant coach Clark Laidlaw, who will join English Premiership side London Irish on a three-year deal next season, said they were given a reminder that they can't let up against anyone in the competition.

"We know that every team's going to bring their A-game and we've got to be ready for that," Laidlaw said.

The Waratahs took the Hurricanes on up front with their damaging ball-carriers as Chris Boyd's side struggled to stop the defending champions.

"There's a lot of teams with big ball-runners so we know we have to stop that part of a team's attack to get our defence working," Laidlaw said.

The Hurricanes will meet the Reds in Brisbane on Sunday as they look to rebound from the loss and this week looms as one where their coaching staff may look to rest some All Blacks. Their internationals need to skip two games this season to remain fresh ahead of the World Cup.

Laidlaw said not much would change in their preparation to meet the Reds but he felt their basics let them down against the Waratahs.

"We'll concentrate hard on those core skills of the game," he said.