June 15, 2024 • 11 mins
Du'Plessis Kirifi has been a stand-out coming off the bench this season for the Hurricanes.
He talks maturing as a loose forward with Jason Pine on Weekend Sport.
Kirifi told Jason Pine "When I was a younger man I was like a bull in a china shop."
LISTEN ABOVE.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ed b.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
A standout for the Hurricanes this season, mainly recently in
an impact role has been loosed forward Duplicy Cardiffee Judd
to the right. Inside Cardiffy is over for the try.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You cannot keep.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Him out of the action. Duplicity Cordifi with us on
game day. Thankstops for taking the time for a chat.
Has it been possible to treat this week the same
as as a regular season week or or are you,
in fact instead embracing the size of this occasion.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
That's a true, that's a good question. I was thinking
about us last night and nah, nothing, nothing's really changed
for us. You know, we don't want we don't want
the boys to do anything differently that they would have
than they would have done, you know, last week or
the week before or at the start of the season.
So routine has been a really important part of our year.
(01:05):
Keeping the same You're obviously looking at it through a
different lens, and it's obviously a different level of pressure
that comes with being in a semi final and went
at home in there. But now for the most part,
we're just treating another like another week off the field.
(01:26):
On the field, definitely a raising intensity, but like I say,
if we do things too differently and we might be
from the path. So just trying our best to keep
things functional and keep things normal and relaxed. Especially for
a younger playing group. We don't want them to you know,
shoot their load too early. So yeah, it's come, come,
(01:51):
feeling and camp at the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I can't think of a player who has made more
impact off the bench this season than you have when
you've played that role. How do you how do you
approach that role when when you're handed it at the
start of the week.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, yeah, I think as competitive and you know, people
who are always wanting to put the best go forward.
The first part of being told you're on the bench
is actually accepting the fact that you're not in the
starting group. And that's not to say you know, you're
(02:30):
not as important, but it can be frustrating. So having
to deal with that has been a massive part of
my journey this year, as we know. But then once
you put your own ego aside and you start to
look at what you can do best for the team,
and that's whether you're starting benching or not playing as well. Yeah,
you can really look to heat the best out of
(02:50):
grown performance. And I really enjoyed coming off the bench.
I know, for example, I'm not going to be getting
eighty minutes. I've got a shorter period to have a
positive impact on the game, and that means that, you know,
I'll have plenty of juice in this the whole time.
So when I come on twenty five five minutes, I
(03:14):
know that I've got, you know, a short amount of
time to just absolutely endy it. And I think that
just helps me along with being clear on what I'm
trying to do, you know, have a positive impact on
the game and how the boys and whatever way I can.
But I've actually really enjoyed my role this year and
sound like I've had a lot of fun, to be honest.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Something else that I've noticed, You've always sailed pretty close
to the line at the breakdown, sometimes over that line,
But I don't remember you giving away as many penalties
this season as previously. Have you changed your approach slightly
in that in that.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Area, yeah, I have. I think last year the last
two seasons, I you know, didn't give away as manyffenity
as my first couple of seasons, but this I think
I've only given away you know, three or four at
the breakdown all year. So yeah, I have changed my approach.
(04:17):
I think it comes with maturity, Bindsy. I think it
just comes from seeing the pictures a bit better than
I used to when I when I was when I
was a younger man, I was just like a bull
in a china shop. And I think my ego, I
think my ego got in the way a little bit.
I just looked at everything and thought, yeah, I can
get there. And you know, at times, as we know,
that was through mine, my teens the mind. So nah,
(04:40):
just yeah, I see the pictures clearly down and we've
got great coaches that have helped me out along the way,
and you know, Corey, Jane and and Clark. It's done
a great job of talking to us about not popping
the balloon for the team per se and and applying
pressure unneeded pressure on our direction. So yeah, I uh, yeah,
(05:02):
you're right. I haven't given away as indipenities this here,
and it's probably a good thing.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Absolutely. You're part of a really impressive group of loose
forwards at the Hurricanes head Brave Andy on the show
on head Brave and Yosie. On the show last week
he called you the wolf pack. How connected are you
as a as a group of loose forwards. You talked
before about you know, needing to play whatever role is
handed to you. How connected are the loose forward cohort
at the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, We're pretty We're a pretty tight knit group. I'm glad.
I'm bloody proud to be a part of our loose
forward's chairman only because you know, we have a lot
to offer. But I just love seeing their growth and
the young boys. I'm not saying I'm no vetteran, but
(05:53):
you know, Brave, dev p t K Howden or younger
than me, and the see them just excel us here
on and off the field. Has just been a pleasure
to watch, so to here the likes of Brandon there
as well. It's just yeah, that's It's been one of
the most favorable parts of the year and the season
(06:14):
is just getting to work with these boys who have
bucket loads of talents. More tell them that I have
in my left pinky.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
The more talent in their pinky than I do in
my whole wading. But so yeah, just we bring the
best out in each other. We want to see each
other do well and when we when that happens, you know,
we we put it down to the group work, which
is and obviously how hard the individuals working. But they're
(06:47):
really enjoying the season with these boys there, great bunch
of boys.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
You're part of a six to two split on the
bench for this game. What does that tell us about
about the way that the Hurricanes you like to likely
to approach this with the with the six to two
split in the impact place.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I think it's just it's a lot at the physicality
of the Chiefs and how big their board packers to
be there, as well as trusting our backs. You know,
with only two on the bench, we we're obviously putting
a lot of trust in our backs to do their
job well and do it and do it accurately. And yeah,
(07:27):
I think we're just trying to pack a little bit
more far power for the end of the game so
that we can, you know, meet fire with fire and
go to the total of this big, big chief sports pack.
We know they have a lot to offer and they
themselves are some outstanding loose boards who we're looking forward
to going up against. The game.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
It was a sad sight to see Xavi and and
Mia depart the field last weekend against the Rebels with
what turned out to be a reasonably serious calf injury.
How gotting to lose such a key player at the
business end for you guys, Yeah, it's just.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
As we know by the all part of the sport.
You know, no matter what level you played, injuries, I think,
and they can affect anyone. But just guting for my friend.
He was having one of those seasons the y you'll
never forget. And there's no I don't believe he won't
(08:27):
come back better and stronger. It's just unfortunate the timing.
I don't really feel for him. I know he's you know,
he'll be got to he'll be got to to be
missing out on the rest of the season, and and
and now I'll just say what I'm thinking, but I'm
sure a lot of other people were thinking. I know
he was, you know, going to go close to higher honors.
(08:48):
So just really good for him after the year he
was having to just have to bow out like that.
But yeah, looking forward to seeing what he does over
the next few weeks with his recovery in his rehab
and you know it'll be good to have him back
on the field at some stage. But feeling for him,
I know, yeah, I know he was looking forward to
contributing this weekend like he has been all year. It's
(09:10):
been amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Indeed, you have been in the chiefs twice this season.
Anything from those two games that's that's useful in a
in a knockout situation or not.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Oh absolutely, I understand in one of them. But yeah,
as you know, sees a big pack with a pretty
slick backline there are Yeah, the backs of their backs
are the goods, and fifty forwards can do a job.
Then we know that the becks are going to be
a handful for us. So mentioned earlier, we've got to
(09:44):
meet fire or fire in terms of the forwards, and yeah,
it's just gotta sit lightly when the backs get the
ball only dragged into all of their moves and cut
the shreds. So looking forward to their challenge. We know
that they've probably got a few things up their sleep,
(10:04):
you know, a little bit of five pound that they've
saved for the semi. So looking forward to it, looking
forward to looking forward to the.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Challenge in big crowd coming this afternoon, dope. So over
thirty thousand on the away the sky Stadium for this game.
How much you're looking forward to feeding off their energy.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, it's gonna be, not gonna lie. It's gonna be
nice to see a few less yellow seats this week
in Well we never o well We sky Stadium is
a mess of stadium, as you though, and we know
the energy has been building all years so too, I
guess for reward our loyal fans and the community down
here in Lower and Lower off Ireland will sit with
(10:44):
a home semi final. You know, it's huge for us.
We we're really proud of the loyal fans that we
do have. So to see a few more of this
week in I thought, what's been a pretty good season
by all means will be a cool thing. And I
know the boys will be feeding up all of that
energy during the war up, so it's exciting. I know
(11:08):
a lot of boys. This will be their biggest current
that I played in front of, so it's an exciting occasion.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Yeah, can't wait, mate, can't wait, Doup. It's great to
get the chance to chat to you. I hope everything
goes well and you earn yourself one more Monday. Great
to chat to you as always.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Mate, that's the one finding thanks made always a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Great to chat do, Plassey, Thank you, du Plas Kalifi there.
He'll come off the bench as part of a six
two split for the Hurricanes this afternoon against the Chiefs
four thirty five sky Stadium, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio for
the commentary.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
If for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ed b.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
A standout for the Hurricanes this season, mainly recently in
an impact role has been loosed forward Duplicy Cardiffee Judd
to the right. Inside Cardiffy is over for the try.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You cannot keep.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Him out of the action. Duplicity Cordifi with us on
game day. Thankstops for taking the time for a chat.
Has it been possible to treat this week the same
as as a regular season week or or are you,
in fact instead embracing the size of this occasion.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
That's a true, that's a good question. I was thinking
about us last night and nah, nothing, nothing's really changed
for us. You know, we don't want we don't want
the boys to do anything differently that they would have
than they would have done, you know, last week or
the week before or at the start of the season.
So routine has been a really important part of our year.
(01:05):
Keeping the same You're obviously looking at it through a
different lens, and it's obviously a different level of pressure
that comes with being in a semi final and went
at home in there. But now for the most part,
we're just treating another like another week off the field.
(01:26):
On the field, definitely a raising intensity, but like I say,
if we do things too differently and we might be
from the path. So just trying our best to keep
things functional and keep things normal and relaxed. Especially for
a younger playing group. We don't want them to you know,
shoot their load too early. So yeah, it's come, come,
(01:51):
feeling and camp at the moment.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I can't think of a player who has made more
impact off the bench this season than you have when
you've played that role. How do you how do you
approach that role when when you're handed it at the
start of the week.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, yeah, I think as competitive and you know, people
who are always wanting to put the best go forward.
The first part of being told you're on the bench
is actually accepting the fact that you're not in the
starting group. And that's not to say you know, you're
(02:30):
not as important, but it can be frustrating. So having
to deal with that has been a massive part of
my journey this year, as we know. But then once
you put your own ego aside and you start to
look at what you can do best for the team,
and that's whether you're starting benching or not playing as well. Yeah,
you can really look to heat the best out of
(02:50):
grown performance. And I really enjoyed coming off the bench.
I know, for example, I'm not going to be getting
eighty minutes. I've got a shorter period to have a
positive impact on the game, and that means that, you know,
I'll have plenty of juice in this the whole time.
So when I come on twenty five five minutes, I
(03:14):
know that I've got, you know, a short amount of
time to just absolutely endy it. And I think that
just helps me along with being clear on what I'm
trying to do, you know, have a positive impact on
the game and how the boys and whatever way I can.
But I've actually really enjoyed my role this year and
sound like I've had a lot of fun, to be honest.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Something else that I've noticed, You've always sailed pretty close
to the line at the breakdown, sometimes over that line,
But I don't remember you giving away as many penalties
this season as previously. Have you changed your approach slightly
in that in that.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Area, yeah, I have. I think last year the last
two seasons, I you know, didn't give away as manyffenity
as my first couple of seasons, but this I think
I've only given away you know, three or four at
the breakdown all year. So yeah, I have changed my approach.
(04:17):
I think it comes with maturity, Bindsy. I think it
just comes from seeing the pictures a bit better than
I used to when I when I was when I
was a younger man, I was just like a bull
in a china shop. And I think my ego, I
think my ego got in the way a little bit.
I just looked at everything and thought, yeah, I can
get there. And you know, at times, as we know,
that was through mine, my teens the mind. So nah,
(04:40):
just yeah, I see the pictures clearly down and we've
got great coaches that have helped me out along the way,
and you know, Corey, Jane and and Clark. It's done
a great job of talking to us about not popping
the balloon for the team per se and and applying
pressure unneeded pressure on our direction. So yeah, I uh, yeah,
(05:02):
you're right. I haven't given away as indipenities this here,
and it's probably a good thing.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Absolutely. You're part of a really impressive group of loose
forwards at the Hurricanes head Brave Andy on the show
on head Brave and Yosie. On the show last week
he called you the wolf pack. How connected are you
as a as a group of loose forwards. You talked
before about you know, needing to play whatever role is
handed to you. How connected are the loose forward cohort
at the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, We're pretty We're a pretty tight knit group. I'm glad.
I'm bloody proud to be a part of our loose
forward's chairman only because you know, we have a lot
to offer. But I just love seeing their growth and
the young boys. I'm not saying I'm no vetteran, but
(05:53):
you know, Brave, dev p t K Howden or younger
than me, and the see them just excel us here
on and off the field. Has just been a pleasure
to watch, so to here the likes of Brandon there
as well. It's just yeah, that's It's been one of
the most favorable parts of the year and the season
(06:14):
is just getting to work with these boys who have
bucket loads of talents. More tell them that I have
in my left pinky.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think so.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
The more talent in their pinky than I do in
my whole wading. But so yeah, just we bring the
best out in each other. We want to see each
other do well and when we when that happens, you know,
we we put it down to the group work, which
is and obviously how hard the individuals working. But they're
(06:47):
really enjoying the season with these boys there, great bunch
of boys.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
You're part of a six to two split on the
bench for this game. What does that tell us about
about the way that the Hurricanes you like to likely
to approach this with the with the six to two
split in the impact place.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I think it's just it's a lot at the physicality
of the Chiefs and how big their board packers to
be there, as well as trusting our backs. You know,
with only two on the bench, we we're obviously putting
a lot of trust in our backs to do their
job well and do it and do it accurately. And yeah,
(07:27):
I think we're just trying to pack a little bit
more far power for the end of the game so
that we can, you know, meet fire with fire and
go to the total of this big, big chief sports pack.
We know they have a lot to offer and they
themselves are some outstanding loose boards who we're looking forward
to going up against. The game.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
It was a sad sight to see Xavi and and
Mia depart the field last weekend against the Rebels with
what turned out to be a reasonably serious calf injury.
How gotting to lose such a key player at the
business end for you guys, Yeah, it's just.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
As we know by the all part of the sport.
You know, no matter what level you played, injuries, I think,
and they can affect anyone. But just guting for my friend.
He was having one of those seasons the y you'll
never forget. And there's no I don't believe he won't
(08:27):
come back better and stronger. It's just unfortunate the timing.
I don't really feel for him. I know he's you know,
he'll be got to he'll be got to to be
missing out on the rest of the season, and and
and now I'll just say what I'm thinking, but I'm
sure a lot of other people were thinking. I know
he was, you know, going to go close to higher honors.
(08:48):
So just really good for him after the year he
was having to just have to bow out like that.
But yeah, looking forward to seeing what he does over
the next few weeks with his recovery in his rehab
and you know it'll be good to have him back
on the field at some stage. But feeling for him,
I know, yeah, I know he was looking forward to
contributing this weekend like he has been all year. It's
(09:10):
been amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Indeed, you have been in the chiefs twice this season.
Anything from those two games that's that's useful in a
in a knockout situation or not.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Oh absolutely, I understand in one of them. But yeah,
as you know, sees a big pack with a pretty
slick backline there are Yeah, the backs of their backs
are the goods, and fifty forwards can do a job.
Then we know that the becks are going to be
a handful for us. So mentioned earlier, we've got to
(09:44):
meet fire or fire in terms of the forwards, and yeah,
it's just gotta sit lightly when the backs get the
ball only dragged into all of their moves and cut
the shreds. So looking forward to their challenge. We know
that they've probably got a few things up their sleep,
(10:04):
you know, a little bit of five pound that they've
saved for the semi. So looking forward to it, looking
forward to looking forward to the.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Challenge in big crowd coming this afternoon, dope. So over
thirty thousand on the away the sky Stadium for this game.
How much you're looking forward to feeding off their energy.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, it's gonna be, not gonna lie. It's gonna be
nice to see a few less yellow seats this week
in Well we never o well We sky Stadium is
a mess of stadium, as you though, and we know
the energy has been building all years so too, I
guess for reward our loyal fans and the community down
here in Lower and Lower off Ireland will sit with
(10:44):
a home semi final. You know, it's huge for us.
We we're really proud of the loyal fans that we
do have. So to see a few more of this
week in I thought, what's been a pretty good season
by all means will be a cool thing. And I
know the boys will be feeding up all of that
energy during the war up, so it's exciting. I know
(11:08):
a lot of boys. This will be their biggest current
that I played in front of, so it's an exciting occasion.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Yeah, can't wait, mate, can't wait, Doup. It's great to
get the chance to chat to you. I hope everything
goes well and you earn yourself one more Monday. Great
to chat to you as always.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Mate, that's the one finding thanks made always a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Great to chat do, Plassey, Thank you, du Plas Kalifi there.
He'll come off the bench as part of a six
two split for the Hurricanes this afternoon against the Chiefs
four thirty five sky Stadium, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio for
the commentary.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
If for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.