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'You're preparing for 80-minute and 85-minute games': Why Super Rugby Aotearoa has been such a mental challenge
The rugby has been thrilling but the injury toll has been high – and even for the players who are still left standing after nine rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa action, it’s not been easy.
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That’s the message from Hurricanes flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi, who will continue to wear the No 7 jersey in Ardie Savea’s absence when the Highlanders travel to Wellington for tonight’s fixture.
The match will mark the final game for both sides in this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa competition – and it could mark their final ever clash in the makeshift tournament, given the changes that are taking player next year.
While the Hurricanes have just a solitary win to their name – over the Highlanders five weeks ago – the visitors could pip the Blues for third place with a victory tonight.
For Kirifi and his teammates, the challenge has been turning up every week with a smile on their faces, given not everything has gone their way this year.
“There’s not much you can do in terms of the reality of the situation,” Kirifi said, acknowledging their tough run of losses – the latest which saw Chiefs No 15 Damian McKenzie nail a penalty after the final buzzer. “We’ve just got to turn up on Monday with a smile on our face.
“[We’ve got] one big game against the Highlanders left and we’re both in a similar situation. It’s going to be a pretty exciting game, I guess – nothing to lose. And then obviously look towards the Australian competition.”
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The upcoming Trans-Tasman competition, which kicks off in two weeks’ time, will give players a chance to freshen up against new and, in some cases, somewhat less challenging opposition.
“The thing with playing the New Zealand teams, week in and week out, is you know the majority of games are going to come down to a single moment, a single try or a single play,” said Kirifi. “Which means, mentally, you’re preparing for 80-minute and 85-minute games.
“Whereas in the past – I’m not saying [non-derby] games are any easier – but it’s been a longer season and there are more ups and downs whereas the competition is tight here.
"It’s probably not gone the way I’ve personally wanted it to go."
Candid words from Du'Plessis Kirifi. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #HURvHIGhttps://t.co/Jb6cPMzQ33
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 29, 2021
“The Chiefs, the last four games they’ve won have gone down to four moments and those moments could have gone either way. It’s just how tight the competition is and I think for players and individuals, week in, week out having to mentally prepare for that kind of battle can take its toll. But we try look after each other and try support each other the best we can.
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“The mental challenge is just as big as the physical one but, in saying that, that’s all part of it. It’s about rising to it and embracing it. Hopefully, we do it a little bit better next year.”
While the focus remains on this weekend, Kirifi has been keeping an eye on the Super Rugby AU competition across the ditch, where the Reds and Brumbies have looked every bit as tough as the Kiwi teams, the Waratahs have floundered, and the Western Force and Rebels have sat somewhere in the middle.
“As rugby players and students of the game, you’re watching rugby while you’re eating dinner,” Kirifi said. “I’ve definitely been keeping an eye on how those Aussie boys are going and they look sharp, playing a fast brand of rugby, so looking forward to going over there and playing them.
“We will be fresh because we haven’t played those boys in a couple of years now so it’s something exciting to look forward to. A bit of travel too. Go to Sydney, see the beach.
“The challenge [right now] is trying to beat those New Zealand teams because they’re top shelf but part of playing rugby as a professional is enjoying the travel and the stuff that comes with that, on top of working hard.”
The Hurricanes’ match against the Highlanders kicks off at 7:05pm NZT from Sky Stadium in Wellington.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments