1
'It's a constant thing for us': Why the Hurricanes aren't worried about a little bit of niggle
Western Force second-rower Jeremy Thrush laid down the gauntlet last week when he revealed he was going to try “piss a few people off” throughout this year’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
Thrush will come up against his former side this evening when the Force travel to Napier to take on the Hurricanes and the 11-test All Black was adamant ahead of playing the Highlanders last weekend that he’s looking forward to causing some angst and frustration amongst his fellow countrymen.
“Last week [in the opening round of the competition against the Chiefs] I did find it pretty fun to try to ruffle a few feathers of Kiwi boys back home,” Thrush said.
“All I’ve got left in me really now is to be a bit niggly and piss a few people off. I’m going to try to do a bit more of that on the weekend.”
While getting under the opposition’s skin is hardly a new tactic in the game of rugby, Hurricanes coach Jason Holland may have paid close attention to Thrush’s comments, given that his side were dished out the most sin-binnings in this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
The Hurricanes had eight players yellow-carded throughout the tournament – twice as many as the next worst team – and Thrush will undoubtedly be trying to earn his team a one-man advantage with a little bit of niggle throughout this evening’s match.
Holland, however, has said that the Hurricanes haven’t paid too much notice of their former player’s comments.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’re always working on our cog [cognitive] stuff, around how we make sure we’re engaged in the moment,” he said following the naming of the Hurricanes squad to take on the force.
“Nothing specific to this week or nothing specific to any individual but it’s a constant thing for us around the last month or six weeks, around making sure that we understand what’s important and we don’t get caught up in any rubbish.”
While the multiple cardings don’t make for good reading, the Hurricanes have managed to keep their penalty count down low this year, tying with the Highlanders for fewest penalties conceded during Super Rugby Aotearoa of the five Kiwi teams.
Sure, it's a given that Jordie Barrett is an expert at causing some on-field havoc… But there are stats and then there are stats. #SuperRugbyTT #HURvFORhttps://t.co/fL4HoMtrvD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 28, 2021
That’s a major contrast to 2020, Holland’s first year in charge, when the Hurricanes were the worst offenders.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the Hurricanes won’t necessarily be particularly wary of being wound up by Thrush, that doesn’t mean they’re not conscious of how much of a presence he can be on the park.
“There’s nothing flashy around what [the Western Force] do but they’re really really good at the little things,” Holland acknowledged.
“They’ve got awesome lineout D, Thrushy’s going pretty well there. And they’ve got some experienced old heads there that will make sure they understand what big moments are like.
“They bring a hell of a lot of physicality and intent with what they do so I think that’s what’s made them really competitive over the least few weeks. They were pretty unlucky to not beat the Chiefs and then to stop the Landers getting a bonus point was pretty good.
“We’re under no illusions around what we’ve got this week; they’re coming over here and there’s a couple of boys, obviously Thrushy’s an ex-Hurricanes, and boys will be well motivated to have a good crack at us.”
Coincidentally, All Blacks hooker Dane Coles – who was last year rated as the ‘biggest grub’ in NZ Rugby by some of his peers – is being rested for this weekend after shouldering a heavy workload in recent times.
Instead, human wrecking ball Asafo Aumua will run out wearing the No 2 jersey.
Tonight’s match kicks off at 7:05pm NZT from McLean Park in Napier.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments