The top-qualifying Hurricanes, and lucky loser Blues, meet in Wellington on Saturday night to determine who will meet the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final.
With the Hurricanes highly favourited to advance, Adam Cooper caught up with co-captain Du'Plessis Kirifi on how they approach the contest.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Seven passay welcome back into the all Sport breakfast here
on Wellington's News Talks. He'd be Semi finals weekend in
Super Rugby and tonight Henry Stadium seven oh five Hurricanes
Blues and after a stellar Super Rugby season, the Hurricanes
are a win away from advancing to a fourth ever
(00:20):
Super Rugby Grand Final and two wins away from a
second championship title to go with their twenty sixteen crown.
Of course, the Hurricanes finished the end of the regular
season with eleven wins from fourteen games. They had a
positive points differential of two hundred and sixty four the
next best where the Chiefs were one hundred and ninety.
(00:41):
The Hurricanes charged into the qualifying finals and then inflicted
a record finals defeat on the Brumbies at home last Friday,
producing an onslaught winning sixty six to twelve. However, the
Scars are being stunned in the twenty twenty four semi
final at home after an equally impressive regular season back
then are still firm in the minds of the Canes.
(01:04):
They just need to kick it into touch.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Save your road, does it And for the second time
in successive seasons, the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Are headed for the Grand Final. The Chiefs have won
the second semi final in Wellington, beating the Hurricanes by
thirty points to nineteen. It was two years ago, but
it's time for the new chapter now. The Hurricanes met
the Blues at Henry Stadium tonight, playing for a chance
to host Yes, the Chiefs the informed Chiefs in next
week's Grand Final. Now, Brad Shields is the only current
(01:35):
player who lifted the Canes solitary Trophy in twenty sixteen
still there now, which was the last Hurricanes team to
play a Grand Final as well. He spoke this week
in the lead.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Up, if you look at the season on a hole
and if you compare in twenty sixteen to nows, I mean,
I've only got twenty sixteen to go for sup rugby title.
The one thing that kind of sticks out is the
rugby's one part of it. But the culture, the standards
that you say, the buye from all the boys, like
that's it at an all time high, kind of similar
to what I felt backed then. So I think if
you get all that sort of stuff set from you know,
(02:07):
alignment through our owners, through Clarkey, through our coaches, through
to the players. No matter who's in our system. As
long as you've got our culture right, the boys are
willing to get better every day, our game is going
to flourish. Like we've got maturity within our group, We've
got experience within our group. So it's just about creating
an environment, I suppose where we can express ourself on
the field and using those experiences from the past as well.
(02:28):
Like we've come up short so many times, almost like
it was before that twenty sixteen times. So the Hurricanes
have always been there or thereabouts. I just think at
the moment, our maturities right where it needs to be,
and our cultures right right now where it needs to
be to get a good performance consistently.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
At the end of twenty twenty one, a young cam
Roy Guards had played a couple of games for the Hurricanes,
but had to fight to convince the coaches that he
should be offered the contractors the franchises third ranked halfback
for twenty twenty two. He got the nods. Mean what
an important piece of recruitment that was by Jason Hollands
and the Canes coaches at the time that helped secure
(03:02):
well not only key succession planning, but almost immediate success
for the team and of course cam Rougard eventually receiving
the number nine batten from TJ. Pettinada. As cam Royguard
pointed out during the week back in twenty twenty one
and twenty twenty two, it was a group of fresh
faced youngsters beginning a journey together and here they are
(03:23):
now making a genuine tilt for the title.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
I feel like as a group, or you know, as
those players that have been here for a long time,
we have faced a lot of adversity when you know,
expectations or we didn't meet our expectations as a club
and as a team. So we're in a good spot now.
We have an opportunity to create a bit of history
and hopefully, you know, get a home final, which hasn't
happened for ten years. I think, So, yeah, there'd be
(03:47):
something pretty cool to be able to do. And yeah,
like I said, we're not getting to carried away, trying
to take it one day at a time. But yeah,
everything with our preppers, ye're leading up for a good performance.
And yeah, like I said, because we're experienced, we understand
what it takes to, you know, to win big games,
and a game with small margins where you need to
be on you know, from one to twenty three plus
(04:07):
the boys and up playing.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
And Cam Roy got matching the word journey they will.
Coach Clark Laidlaw has been a part of that journey
since the start of the twenty twenty four season. He
talked about the path leading to where the team's at
right now.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Yeah, I guess you're always trying to build and trying
to put stuff in place that that gives you sustained
consistency or sustained success. I sat only feel compared with
two years ago when we're in the semi final, we're
more prepared holistically, like the staff, the coaches, the leaders.
Our game feels, Yeah, it's built on strong foundations, I
(04:41):
guess now. And as we said last week, we had
a few scars that we've had to take. But that's
all part of the growth, isn't it. You know, frustrations
and disappointment, it's all part of growing up, you know.
So the team fields that it's grown up together. It's
spent a lot of time together over the last three
four five years, even before I was here. So so yeah,
we certainly feel like we've been building, but we're well
aware you've got out on it. No, you know, it's
(05:01):
not what you've been building for the last six seven
months of the last three years. You've got to deliver
on the weekends. So we're well aware of that part.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Yes, exciting times, is it? The Hurricanes, of course highly favorited,
But when you see the Blues light up, the likes
of Boden Barrett, Caleb Clark, a very well credentialed forward
pack of you know, the likes of Patrick two Pulo
to Anton Segna there too, you can't completely discount the
Blues by any stretch. I popped along yesterday as the
Hurricanes completed It's Captain's run and caught up with co
(05:31):
captain dud Is it at the point now were you
sort of just happy with the prep and just want
to get out there and play tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, we're pretty clear on who we are and how
we want to play. And I guess the amazing part
about going deep into the season is you get a
really good feel for what you need from the week
and also what you don't need.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
So yeah, what makes you know that the team's ready?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I guess it changes like week one of the year, preseason,
I guess you train hard, but you still you know,
you're still not sure how things are quite going to go.
And as a season goes on, like I said before,
it just reaffirmed some things we know by now. Yeah,
we know pretty early on we're going to be in
the right spot. And that just comes back to resetting
at the start of the week and going about our
work as if it's just another week, which helps, I guess,
(06:17):
regulate emotions and keeps us job focused. But yeah, you know,
there's a lot of experience in our group. Peter Larcho
is playing as fiftieth tomorrow and that brings boys within
the starting team plus the bench to well upwards of
eighty percent of the team played over fifty games, which
hopefully lends to a lot of experience and maturity around
preparing for the week and doing the right things.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Peter is someone that you've had a front row seat
of his development through the Wellington system, locking horns in
the scrum there and his growth to now fifty games
at the Canes. What's he meant to this team? And
I guess how influential is he, especially living up to
a game like this.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I can't speak highly enough of him genuinely. You know,
Wellington born and bred product he comes through. He's a
quiet man, but he just goes about his work and
one of his greatest qualities I think as a teammate
and as a fan sometimes he's just so accurate and reliable,
which I don't think it can't get any better than that.
When you when you when you go out there and
you're playing alongside someone, you know exactly what you're going
(07:14):
to get from him. And that's just the kind of
player he is, and it's his whole week. It's not
just on the game. You know what he's going to
be like on a Monday and a Tuesday. And just
to have seen him grow and flourish over the years,
it has been an absolute pleasure. And you know, I
don't mind saying this. He has made me a better
player over the last four years and hopefully in turn
I've done the same to him. But to compete against him,
(07:37):
to learn off him, but to also grow alongside him
and watch him turn into the Ruby player that we
will see now what a young man.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Huge loose forward match up tomorrow. Tell us how you
prepare for that? We know it's one of the blue strengths.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
It is one of the blue strengths, you know, and
it's no secret Anton's having a career best year. But
I think when you make it to finals time, every
team is going to have good players within him, and
every team's going to have good, good connections and they're
loose forwards or they might have strong pairing of locks.
You know, all their nine to ten know how to
manage the game. So no matter who we play in
a semi or final, they're going to have good players.
(08:11):
And that's what it's all about. If you want to win,
you've got to be the best.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
They have lost four in a row, though, and conceded
fifty points or more in a couple of games, it
would signify they have been having some issues. How do
you approach them based on that record?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah, I'm not really not really buying in too much
to their form. You know, obviously the season is done
and they did well enough to put them in themselves
in a spot where they could now play a semifinal.
And once you turn up to the semifinal, it's it's
eighty minutes of rugby that separates the winner from a loser.
(08:46):
So you know, regardless of their results leading into this game,
and similar to us. You know, whoever teams up on
the night, anything can happen. But we take confidence from
our prep, not just this week but throughout the season
and our own form. But we're under no illusion that
the Blues aren't just going to walk down here and
(09:06):
give us the game. They're end of a shot. There
are two games away from a title, just like we are.
So we expect them to, yeah, throw the kitchen sink
and go back to what really works for them, which
is coming hard at the front door and sitting their
big boys down down either side of our ruck and
trying to create momentum that way. But you know, I
(09:28):
wouldn't say this from both sides. There's a lot to
be surprised about.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Your assistant coach, Corey Jane was there for the title
in twenty sixteen. Brad Shields is the only current player
that was there in twenty sixteen. What have you taken
from Brad this week in terms of what he said
to the group.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
I've taken so much from him as we all have.
You know, a massive you know, a massive part of
all of our careers. And I guess this team is
being able to look to the past for learnings and advice,
and we are so lucky to have someone like Brad
Shields who who has been there and done that with
(10:03):
this club. So he's got plenty of offer in terms
of experience, not just throughout his career but his own experiences.
So he's been a massive, massive part of our puzzle
as he has gone on, whether he's played, not played,
come off the bench. The kind of man he is,
he's always ready to contribute and help out.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
First semi final tonight, do you lock in and give
that your focus this evening or does that become the
job after hopefully a win this weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Tonight, I'll be watching as a fan, a fan of rugby.
I know that game is going to be yeah, right
up there, two of New Zealand's best teams just going
at it for eighty minutes. So obviously I'll be watching
with interest, but I won't be watching with my business
hat on. Yeah, I'll be sitting at home they dreaming
(10:53):
about other things obviously, But yeah, Monday, hopefully when we
go into work, then we can put our business head
on and have a really rewatch that game and see
what we can do about it. But yeah, there's no
doubt that game is going to have some fireworks.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
And speaking of your business hat, when on match day
you actually put that business hat on, how far in
advance does it just occupy your head and your thoughts
leading up to a big.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Game changes for everyone. If you ask Reuben, probably say Wednesday.
If you ask Colzy back in the day you probably
say Monday. For me, I was definitely the night before
start leaning my mind towards you know, what the day
looks like. Pretty consistent these days, so I know exactly
what's going to happen when and where, But I think
(11:37):
real mentally switching in around one pm, two pm, you know,
I've enjoyed my morning, done something to fill the soul,
and then yeah, it's time to go to work.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
You know, at times, getting people to be able to
afford to come to sports tough. Crowds are tough. But
feeling that the buzz this week is the team felt
that there's a bit of hype building around Wellington for
this campaign.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah absolutely, you know, under no illusion Economically, you know,
it's pretty tough times, not just in Wellington but all
over New Zealand at the moment. So you know, for
those that have turned up week and week out so far.
We're greatly appreciative of that because you know, it's not cheap.
You know, it's not cheap to leave your lounge, you know,
the warmth of your own home in one of those
(12:18):
typical Wellington evenings and bring the kids along. But to
those that have always turned up where we just couldn't
be more grateful. But we're definitely feeling a buzz around town.
Can't go to the supermarket without getting stopped these days,
so I hoping to see a big crowd. We know
the weather is supposed to be quite nice, which is
which is amazing. That's that's always a big part of
(12:41):
the puzzle. But yeah, you know it's a big ask
for people to leave their homes after a long week
of work. But we're hoping that we can do our part,
which is play good rugby and put on a show.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
So seven oh five kickoff. There's been a lot of
talk let's just get this game underway and hopefully see
the Hurricanes through to final next weekend. The next two
weeks though our history defining for this current era of
Hurricanes rugby. Clark Laidlaw and his coaching staff for at
the absolute sweet spot with the current group of players,
which is changing next year with several key departures. So
(13:15):
with the players they have the form therein the momentum
behind them, you'd have to say this is their best
chance at winning another title since that Solitary Championship and
twenty sixteen, and likely will be their best chance for
a while. As Party said before, all we can do
is fans now is get along and support this team.
Fill the in. The least this great team and fantastic
(13:37):
group of players and coaches deserve from us is showing
that we as a city and region are right behind them.
Don't wait till next week. Get there tonight. I'll say
it again, fill that in. Cannot wait for it. For
more from News Talks B listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcast on iHeartRadio.
Seven passay welcome back into the all Sport breakfast here
on Wellington's News Talks. He'd be Semi finals weekend in
Super Rugby and tonight Henry Stadium seven oh five Hurricanes
Blues and after a stellar Super Rugby season, the Hurricanes
are a win away from advancing to a fourth ever
(00:20):
Super Rugby Grand Final and two wins away from a
second championship title to go with their twenty sixteen crown.
Of course, the Hurricanes finished the end of the regular
season with eleven wins from fourteen games. They had a
positive points differential of two hundred and sixty four the
next best where the Chiefs were one hundred and ninety.
(00:41):
The Hurricanes charged into the qualifying finals and then inflicted
a record finals defeat on the Brumbies at home last Friday,
producing an onslaught winning sixty six to twelve. However, the
Scars are being stunned in the twenty twenty four semi
final at home after an equally impressive regular season back
then are still firm in the minds of the Canes.
(01:04):
They just need to kick it into touch.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Save your road, does it And for the second time
in successive seasons, the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Are headed for the Grand Final. The Chiefs have won
the second semi final in Wellington, beating the Hurricanes by
thirty points to nineteen. It was two years ago, but
it's time for the new chapter now. The Hurricanes met
the Blues at Henry Stadium tonight, playing for a chance
to host Yes, the Chiefs the informed Chiefs in next
week's Grand Final. Now, Brad Shields is the only current
(01:35):
player who lifted the Canes solitary Trophy in twenty sixteen
still there now, which was the last Hurricanes team to
play a Grand Final as well. He spoke this week
in the lead.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Up, if you look at the season on a hole
and if you compare in twenty sixteen to nows, I mean,
I've only got twenty sixteen to go for sup rugby title.
The one thing that kind of sticks out is the
rugby's one part of it. But the culture, the standards
that you say, the buye from all the boys, like
that's it at an all time high, kind of similar
to what I felt backed then. So I think if
you get all that sort of stuff set from you know,
(02:07):
alignment through our owners, through Clarkey, through our coaches, through
to the players. No matter who's in our system. As
long as you've got our culture right, the boys are
willing to get better every day, our game is going
to flourish. Like we've got maturity within our group, We've
got experience within our group. So it's just about creating
an environment, I suppose where we can express ourself on
the field and using those experiences from the past as well.
(02:28):
Like we've come up short so many times, almost like
it was before that twenty sixteen times. So the Hurricanes
have always been there or thereabouts. I just think at
the moment, our maturities right where it needs to be,
and our cultures right right now where it needs to
be to get a good performance consistently.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
At the end of twenty twenty one, a young cam
Roy Guards had played a couple of games for the Hurricanes,
but had to fight to convince the coaches that he
should be offered the contractors the franchises third ranked halfback
for twenty twenty two. He got the nods. Mean what
an important piece of recruitment that was by Jason Hollands
and the Canes coaches at the time that helped secure
(03:02):
well not only key succession planning, but almost immediate success
for the team and of course cam Rougard eventually receiving
the number nine batten from TJ. Pettinada. As cam Royguard
pointed out during the week back in twenty twenty one
and twenty twenty two, it was a group of fresh
faced youngsters beginning a journey together and here they are
(03:23):
now making a genuine tilt for the title.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
I feel like as a group, or you know, as
those players that have been here for a long time,
we have faced a lot of adversity when you know,
expectations or we didn't meet our expectations as a club
and as a team. So we're in a good spot now.
We have an opportunity to create a bit of history
and hopefully, you know, get a home final, which hasn't
happened for ten years. I think, So, yeah, there'd be
(03:47):
something pretty cool to be able to do. And yeah,
like I said, we're not getting to carried away, trying
to take it one day at a time. But yeah,
everything with our preppers, ye're leading up for a good performance.
And yeah, like I said, because we're experienced, we understand
what it takes to, you know, to win big games,
and a game with small margins where you need to
be on you know, from one to twenty three plus
(04:07):
the boys and up playing.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
And Cam Roy got matching the word journey they will.
Coach Clark Laidlaw has been a part of that journey
since the start of the twenty twenty four season. He
talked about the path leading to where the team's at
right now.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Yeah, I guess you're always trying to build and trying
to put stuff in place that that gives you sustained
consistency or sustained success. I sat only feel compared with
two years ago when we're in the semi final, we're
more prepared holistically, like the staff, the coaches, the leaders.
Our game feels, Yeah, it's built on strong foundations, I
(04:41):
guess now. And as we said last week, we had
a few scars that we've had to take. But that's
all part of the growth, isn't it. You know, frustrations
and disappointment, it's all part of growing up, you know.
So the team fields that it's grown up together. It's
spent a lot of time together over the last three
four five years, even before I was here. So so yeah,
we certainly feel like we've been building, but we're well
aware you've got out on it. No, you know, it's
(05:01):
not what you've been building for the last six seven
months of the last three years. You've got to deliver
on the weekends. So we're well aware of that part.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Yes, exciting times, is it? The Hurricanes, of course highly favorited,
But when you see the Blues light up, the likes
of Boden Barrett, Caleb Clark, a very well credentialed forward
pack of you know, the likes of Patrick two Pulo
to Anton Segna there too, you can't completely discount the
Blues by any stretch. I popped along yesterday as the
Hurricanes completed It's Captain's run and caught up with co
(05:31):
captain dud Is it at the point now were you
sort of just happy with the prep and just want
to get out there and play tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, we're pretty clear on who we are and how
we want to play. And I guess the amazing part
about going deep into the season is you get a
really good feel for what you need from the week
and also what you don't need.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
So yeah, what makes you know that the team's ready?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I guess it changes like week one of the year, preseason,
I guess you train hard, but you still you know,
you're still not sure how things are quite going to go.
And as a season goes on, like I said before,
it just reaffirmed some things we know by now. Yeah,
we know pretty early on we're going to be in
the right spot. And that just comes back to resetting
at the start of the week and going about our
work as if it's just another week, which helps, I guess,
(06:17):
regulate emotions and keeps us job focused. But yeah, you know,
there's a lot of experience in our group. Peter Larcho
is playing as fiftieth tomorrow and that brings boys within
the starting team plus the bench to well upwards of
eighty percent of the team played over fifty games, which
hopefully lends to a lot of experience and maturity around
preparing for the week and doing the right things.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Peter is someone that you've had a front row seat
of his development through the Wellington system, locking horns in
the scrum there and his growth to now fifty games
at the Canes. What's he meant to this team? And
I guess how influential is he, especially living up to
a game like this.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I can't speak highly enough of him genuinely. You know,
Wellington born and bred product he comes through. He's a
quiet man, but he just goes about his work and
one of his greatest qualities I think as a teammate
and as a fan sometimes he's just so accurate and reliable,
which I don't think it can't get any better than that.
When you when you when you go out there and
you're playing alongside someone, you know exactly what you're going
(07:14):
to get from him. And that's just the kind of
player he is, and it's his whole week. It's not
just on the game. You know what he's going to
be like on a Monday and a Tuesday. And just
to have seen him grow and flourish over the years,
it has been an absolute pleasure. And you know, I
don't mind saying this. He has made me a better
player over the last four years and hopefully in turn
I've done the same to him. But to compete against him,
(07:37):
to learn off him, but to also grow alongside him
and watch him turn into the Ruby player that we
will see now what a young man.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Huge loose forward match up tomorrow. Tell us how you
prepare for that? We know it's one of the blue strengths.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
It is one of the blue strengths, you know, and
it's no secret Anton's having a career best year. But
I think when you make it to finals time, every
team is going to have good players within him, and
every team's going to have good, good connections and they're
loose forwards or they might have strong pairing of locks.
You know, all their nine to ten know how to
manage the game. So no matter who we play in
a semi or final, they're going to have good players.
(08:11):
And that's what it's all about. If you want to win,
you've got to be the best.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
They have lost four in a row, though, and conceded
fifty points or more in a couple of games, it
would signify they have been having some issues. How do
you approach them based on that record?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah, I'm not really not really buying in too much
to their form. You know, obviously the season is done
and they did well enough to put them in themselves
in a spot where they could now play a semifinal.
And once you turn up to the semifinal, it's it's
eighty minutes of rugby that separates the winner from a loser.
(08:46):
So you know, regardless of their results leading into this game,
and similar to us. You know, whoever teams up on
the night, anything can happen. But we take confidence from
our prep, not just this week but throughout the season
and our own form. But we're under no illusion that
the Blues aren't just going to walk down here and
(09:06):
give us the game. They're end of a shot. There
are two games away from a title, just like we are.
So we expect them to, yeah, throw the kitchen sink
and go back to what really works for them, which
is coming hard at the front door and sitting their
big boys down down either side of our ruck and
trying to create momentum that way. But you know, I
(09:28):
wouldn't say this from both sides. There's a lot to
be surprised about.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Your assistant coach, Corey Jane was there for the title
in twenty sixteen. Brad Shields is the only current player
that was there in twenty sixteen. What have you taken
from Brad this week in terms of what he said
to the group.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
I've taken so much from him as we all have.
You know, a massive you know, a massive part of
all of our careers. And I guess this team is
being able to look to the past for learnings and advice,
and we are so lucky to have someone like Brad
Shields who who has been there and done that with
(10:03):
this club. So he's got plenty of offer in terms
of experience, not just throughout his career but his own experiences.
So he's been a massive, massive part of our puzzle
as he has gone on, whether he's played, not played,
come off the bench. The kind of man he is,
he's always ready to contribute and help out.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
First semi final tonight, do you lock in and give
that your focus this evening or does that become the
job after hopefully a win this weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Tonight, I'll be watching as a fan, a fan of rugby.
I know that game is going to be yeah, right
up there, two of New Zealand's best teams just going
at it for eighty minutes. So obviously I'll be watching
with interest, but I won't be watching with my business
hat on. Yeah, I'll be sitting at home they dreaming
(10:53):
about other things obviously, But yeah, Monday, hopefully when we
go into work, then we can put our business head
on and have a really rewatch that game and see
what we can do about it. But yeah, there's no
doubt that game is going to have some fireworks.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
And speaking of your business hat, when on match day
you actually put that business hat on, how far in
advance does it just occupy your head and your thoughts
leading up to a big.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Game changes for everyone. If you ask Reuben, probably say Wednesday.
If you ask Colzy back in the day you probably
say Monday. For me, I was definitely the night before
start leaning my mind towards you know, what the day
looks like. Pretty consistent these days, so I know exactly
what's going to happen when and where, But I think
(11:37):
real mentally switching in around one pm, two pm, you know,
I've enjoyed my morning, done something to fill the soul,
and then yeah, it's time to go to work.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
You know, at times, getting people to be able to
afford to come to sports tough. Crowds are tough. But
feeling that the buzz this week is the team felt
that there's a bit of hype building around Wellington for
this campaign.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah absolutely, you know, under no illusion Economically, you know,
it's pretty tough times, not just in Wellington but all
over New Zealand at the moment. So you know, for
those that have turned up week and week out so far.
We're greatly appreciative of that because you know, it's not cheap.
You know, it's not cheap to leave your lounge, you know,
the warmth of your own home in one of those
(12:18):
typical Wellington evenings and bring the kids along. But to
those that have always turned up where we just couldn't
be more grateful. But we're definitely feeling a buzz around town.
Can't go to the supermarket without getting stopped these days,
so I hoping to see a big crowd. We know
the weather is supposed to be quite nice, which is
which is amazing. That's that's always a big part of
(12:41):
the puzzle. But yeah, you know it's a big ask
for people to leave their homes after a long week
of work. But we're hoping that we can do our part,
which is play good rugby and put on a show.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
So seven oh five kickoff. There's been a lot of
talk let's just get this game underway and hopefully see
the Hurricanes through to final next weekend. The next two
weeks though our history defining for this current era of
Hurricanes rugby. Clark Laidlaw and his coaching staff for at
the absolute sweet spot with the current group of players,
which is changing next year with several key departures. So
(13:15):
with the players they have the form therein the momentum
behind them, you'd have to say this is their best
chance at winning another title since that Solitary Championship and
twenty sixteen, and likely will be their best chance for
a while. As Party said before, all we can do
is fans now is get along and support this team.
Fill the in. The least this great team and fantastic
(13:37):
group of players and coaches deserve from us is showing
that we as a city and region are right behind them.
Don't wait till next week. Get there tonight. I'll say
it again, fill that in. Cannot wait for it. For
more from News Talks B listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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