Rugby: Hurricanes learn about loss

Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush is in doubt for tomorrow's semifinal against the Chiefs after injuring his elbow at training. Photo / Getty Images

The Hurricanes flew to Hamilton today with square eyes and stiffened resolve ahead of a Super 14 rugby semifinal against the Chiefs that is too close to call.

Bookmakers can't decide who will win at Hamilton tomorrow night - putting a Hurricanes team with the competition's best attack on the same line as a Chiefs side scaling new heights in confidence and likely to inspired again by their Waikato Stadium crowd.

The Chiefs have recent history on their side - a 16-8 win at the same venue less than two weeks ago - but the Hurricanes have the better head-to-head record.

They also have more experience of playoffs rugby and have come out on the better side of the injury lottery this week, with doubt over lock Jeremy Thrush's elbow trumping the Chiefs' loss of centre Richard Kahui, halfback Brendon Leonard and prop Ben May.
It is rare in Super rugby to have such a recent reference point as the teams' May 9 meeting and the Hurricanes reckon they have taken full advantage this week.

Rewind, pause and slow-mo have been common training activities, dissecting in the video room why they were so flat on a cold, miserable night in Mooloo country.

"There were a lot of learnings from that game," coach Colin Cooper said.

"The conditions really changed how we played the game. We probably didn't adapt to them as well as the Chiefs. I think the conditions will be similar and we'll be a lot more prepared."

The result was a blip in a stirring end to the season. The Hurricanes have averaged 43 points per game over the last five rounds if the Hamilton setback is removed.

Cooper hinted his team haven't often been placed under the same pressure at the collision points as what the Chiefs achieved.

"I think in the set piece and the contact area we just need to get better quality ball," he said.

"Our ball wasn't recycled as good as it should have been and I think that's where their defence, particularly their rush defence, was good."

Busting the Chiefs' famous fast-moving defence line could be decisive, with the game's most dangerous midfield back - Hurricanes second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu - an obvious key figure in his franchise-record fifth semifinal appearance.

Fullback Cory Jane said if the likes of Nonu or All Blacks midfield partner Conrad Smith can penetrate a Chiefs backline missing centre lynchpin Kahui, the hosts will pay.

Jane was one of many Hurricanes to talk up the importance of the breakdown but also called for an improved kick-chase game from the previous Chiefs encounter - an area where he struggled himself.

"After the game I was pretty upset and I had a couple of talks to the coaches about it," he said.

"They just had too much space to run at us, or they had too much space to kick it into."

Cooper said his players' head space this week was the best he had seen it in seven years at the helm.

He firmly believes the demons that have seen the Hurricanes fall short in five previous playoff visits are exorcised.

"Standing in front of them, there's a real determination," Cooper said.

"They're not just excited and happy to be here, there's a resolve that they want to do better.

"It's very pleasing as a coach to see that. I haven't seen that before."

The focus was very much tunnel vision in nature.

"They want to go another step. That's my interpretation as a coach, getting a feel of that is great.

"It's all about us. However the Chiefs turn up, it doesn't matter."

Thrush remained in limbo today, with a decision on his fitness likely to be made close to kickoff.

Lock cover Api Naikatini flew north with the team on standby, with Bryn Evans the man to start if the in-form Thrush is ruled out.

- NZPA