Du'Plessis Kirifi: 'I've definitely taken the long road around to get here'

Du’Plessis Kirifi has had to wait longer than most for his first shot at an All Blacks cap, but the 28-year-old’s tenacity and dedication have seen him stay in the fight and earn his first official selection in 2025.

He’s touched the All Blacks set up twice before, both times as injury cover, but the Hurricanes co-captain has now been promoted from the fringes to the forefront.

While Kirifi’s game has always been characterised by the same energetic, uncompromising play he’s known for today, refining those unrelenting competitive instincts for the next level has been a steady work on.

“I’ve definitely taken the long road around to get here, compared to some of the other boys who make it a lot younger. But I’m grateful for my journey, I think I’ve learned a lot of things along the way. So, hoping I am ready,” the newcomer told Newstalk ZB‘s D’Arcy Waldergrave after hearing his name read out at Monday’s All Blacks squad announcement.

Kirifi has come a long way since switching from the halfback position in his late teens, and while discipline has been an issue throughout the early stages of his Super Rugby career, the just five penalties he conceded in 2025 are less than half that of a more established All Blacks flanker like Dalton Papali’i.

“I think the biggest area of growth for me, personally, especially the last two seasons, has just been around consistency.

“I’ve always been able to play good footy, but being able to do it week in, week out, and be someone my teammates can rely on has been a challenge of mine. I’d say that’s my proudest area of growth, and I’d say a strength of mine now.

“But a lot of reflecting and learning along the way, and oftentimes you don’t have a lot of time to learn, each week you’re thrust into the public eye to execute a plan and do a job, and sometimes you don’t do it to the best of your capabilities and it’s under scrutiny.

“I’ve learnt a lot in public and learnt a lot in private, but grateful for both and it’s put me in a good spot now.”

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With just shy of 100 games for the Hurricanes under his belt, Kirifi is one of the club’s longest-tenured talents and is now five years removed from his first All Blacks call-up as injury cover. His patience has been tested, and overseas offers have been knocked back as he chases his dream.

“I wouldn’t say anything’s easy, I wouldn’t say it’s upsetting either. I think just always being real clear on what I want to achieve, and that’s becoming an All Black and never losing sight of that, no matter how hard it got or how potentially deflating the situation became for me, but just understanding, yes, it’s not always going to be easy and sticking to it and trusting the process.

“But it’s not just me, I’m extremely grateful and lucky to have amazing people in my life who challenge me and keep me grounded, but lift me up when I’m a little bit down at times as well. So, really lucky for those people in my life who can often hold me up when I feel like I’m not going to get the job done, but they can bring me back down to earth real quick when I’m getting too big for myself. Really grateful.”

This season has seen the flanker put on a little more weight and reach career-best form, but Kirifi knows the work is only just beginning now that he’s officially joining the All Blacks environment. He also knows what he brings to the game, and can only imagine that what has made him a great Hurricane will be what can make him a great All Black.

“I think my whole career, my ability to just compete all the time has been something I’ve been able to build my game on. But, to be more specific, my physicality both sides of the ball, and not just being physical, but being accurate and making plays that impact the game at crucial moments.

“Those two, or two and a half, are probably the big ones for me. I haven’t had that chat with the coaches, but that’s definitely something that was beneficial for us at the Hurricanes, so I imagine it might be the same for them.”