Clark Laidlaw: Hurricanes Coach ahead of the Super Rugby semifinal against the Chiefs

The Hurricanes are sitting at the top of the table ahead of their Super Rugby semifinal against the Chiefs. 

They’re facing off tomorrow at Sky Stadium, giving the Hurricanes a homefield advantage. 

Coach Clark Laidlaw told Mike Hosking that there’s been a real buzz around Wellington the last few weeks, and the support from the city is right up there. 

He said that the Chiefs are definitely good enough to roll them, and the Canes will need to be ready for them to be at their best. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Semi final time Super Rugby is the Blues take on
the Bromboos tonight. Then we've got the Hurricanes Chiefs in
the Capitol tomorrow. The Hurricanes coach Clark laid Law is well,
there's clack. Very good morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yeah, good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
How are you feeling good?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, feeling good? Thanks. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Your assessment of the town Wellington, the team and how
it's done this year and whither the city's got behind.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
You, Yeah, I think so. It feels set in the
last couple of weeks, the real buzz around town. The
players have been out and about over the last two
games and we just talked about that. Yesterday's a team
we feel like the support and the energy in the
town and the city is it's right up there. So yeah,
it's up to ask to turn up tomorrow and putting

(00:41):
a good performance.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Good Any extra pressure given the expectations around you and
how well you've done this season, No.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
I don't think so. I think yeah. I never feel
like when you're doing well there's pressure. That's more when
you're not doing well. So yeah, we're excited where we're
at and as I say, we're looking forward to getting
stuck in tomorrow night would.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Have increasing talk around the Chiefs and the possibility that
they could roll you. What's your view of them.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, they're definitely good enough to roll us, for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
You know.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
I've had some people say that under the radar, I'm
not I'm not sure the radars were working very well.
You know. They're a side full of what They've got
eight or nine players I've played for All Blacks, They've
got coaches that coach you know, the All Black fifteen
or the Maby All Blacks, and a highly cohesive unit
you know from the last couple of years, and made

(01:31):
the final last year. So yeah, we're well aware how
good they can be when they get it right. And
as I say, well need to be ready for that
tomorrow night. So I'm sure they're going to be at
their best.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
What about the Blues of the Brombies? Does it bother
you who you make in the final?

Speaker 2 (01:46):
That wouldn't I would. I would be very happy to
play either. It means we've got one more week, doesn't it.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
Indeed? What's what's your view of the stide of the competition,
especially given the Rebels and what happened to them this year?
Being know, the crowd, the TV audiences, all that sort
of stuff.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Yeah, all of the rebels is obviously really disappointing for
them and you know, their staff and players. In Australian rugby,
we've seen it all over the world over the last
few years, where you know, the professional game around the
finances has been struggling. And we're not immune to that,
are we in the Southern Hemisphere. So you know, we've
been We've thought that from a tournament perspective, crowds, TV,

(02:24):
you know, it feels like it's on that. I think
we'd all like a bet of stability around you know,
around the competition, you know, over the next couple of
years to again try and get that consistency, you know,
for the fans and for the years. You know, I
think that's important if we can, If we can find
that consistency and you know, and get the competition a
little bit more stable, would be would be helpful.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah, well, see what's the weather in Trek tomorrow and
doesn't matter.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yeah, we've got a little Jim Hicky and in our
coaching office. So Tyler Blindell tells me it's going to
be nice tomorrow. So not quite so nice this morning,
but it's yeah, I guess it's what it is. You know,
we played in ho Win a couple of weeks ago.
We played Just Not Coding the Sky and a Breath
of Wind last week, so it feels like it made
me something in between. Tomorrow good on, you might.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
Go well appreciate it very much. Clark Laidlaw, the Hurricanes coach.
Good to head Jim Hickey in the office. I reckon
he's a name that conjures up good times. For more
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