Kirifi backs Hurricanes to handle finals pressure despite near-total inexperience

Du’Plessis Kirifi has acknowledged that the Hurricanes are heading into largely uncharted territory ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific grand final, with Brad Shields the only player in the current squad to have featured in a final — the 2016 victory over the Lions in Wellington.

Kirifi was candid when asked whether that lack of finals experience could weigh on the group during grand final week. “It’s a great question, for 99.999% of the group it’s a new feeling,” he told media in Wellington. “I think we’ve got enough experience within the group.”

Shields, one of the Hurricanes’ senior leaders, started the 2016 triumph at No.6 and will be a key reference point for the squad in the build-up. “Brad has been there and done that, so we’ll definitely lean on him,” Kirifi said. “But the experience is there for us to not get lost on the occasion.”

Kirifi added that the squad would take time to appreciate the achievement of reaching the final before quickly refocusing. “Enjoy, obviously, putting ourselves there tonight, but Monday we turn up, nothing changes, we start again. But I think it would be remiss of us to not acknowledge the magnitude of the week. It’s a grand final, so we’ll acknowledge it, but we’ll put it into place, and we’ll go about building our week like we have all year.”

The Hurricanes arrive at the final as the competition’s form side, having scored more than 56 points in each of their last two playoff matches. Head coach Clark Laidlaw said the preparation will not change regardless of the occasion or the opponent.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” Laidlaw said. “Doesn’t matter to us if it’s the Blues, the Brumbies, or the Chiefs. So our preparation will be the same — they’re all good teams on the day, so to put 60 and put 50 on two good sides is highly motivating.”

Laidlaw was also full of praise for co-captain Jordie Barrett, whose performance helped the Hurricanes run in six second-half tries against the Blues. “The off-the-ball movement is world-class, isn’t it? The ability to keep his feet moving, keep talking, keep putting other people in position, is genuinely world-class,” the head coach said.

Former All Black Cory Jane, who started the 2016 final on the right wing, is now part of Laidlaw’s coaching staff as assistant coach and defence lead — another thread of continuity linking this squad to the franchise’s only Super Rugby Pacific title.