Hitting the breakdowns low and hard will be crucial for the Hurricanes if they want to ignite their Super Rugby campaign against defending champions the Chiefs in Wellington.
The Hurricanes have returned from a two-match South African tour on the front foot, recovering from a disastrous 48-14 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria to post an encouraging 39-34 bonus-point win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
To build on that momentum, coach Mark Hammett says the Hurricanes will have to adjust quickly in some key areas on Friday.
“In Africa, for example, you can often win the ball in your ruck pretty easily. They’ll challenge it, but not from a body height perspective,” he said.
“Coming back home, against New Zealand and Australian teams again, if you don’t get that part right you turn a lot of ball over.”
One player Hammett expects to make a difference in that area is young tighthead prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen, boosted by his inclusion in the All Blacks’ wider training squad named earlier in the week.
“Things like his raw power, his work rate, his tackle rate, are quite phenomenal. I think he’s in the top three or four of all props in Super Rugby.”
The Hurricanes have the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up, although they will still be without captain Conrad Smith as he works his way back from concussion.
Along with hooker Dane Coles, out with a fractured eye socket, Smith is expected to return in two weeks against the Brumbies in Canberra as the Hurricanes sit out the bye next week.
In contrast, the Chiefs’ worrying injury run has continued.
All Blacks loose forward Sam Cane is the latest in a long list, ruled out with a back injury.
Among others missing are Tim Nanai-Williams (stomach ulcer), Richard Kahui (shoulder), Andrew Horrell (ankle) and Gareth Anscombe (broken foot).
On the plus side, centre Charlie Ngatai is back from a hamstring injury, and halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow has his second start after a six-week absence with a broken jaw.
The Hurricanes’ focus remains unaffected, Hammett says.
“We’re certainly not looking at them rubbing our hands together.
“We know that if we’re not completely up to it, if we’re not at our best as a team, then we’ll get rolled.”
