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Shields: Hurricanes ready for two Super Rugby finals
By Alex Fisher
Ahead of their last-four clash with the Crusaders, Brad Shields says the Hurricanes face two finals in their pursuit of a second Super Rugby title.
Having clung on to see off the Chiefs 32-31 in the last eight, the Canes face the top-ranked Crusaders in the semi-finals in Christchurch on Saturday.
Shields knows the defending champions – and record eight-time winners – will be tough to overcome and has called for focus from his side as they look to repeat their 2016 success.
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"The word I've heard is this is going to be our final this week, because we've got to play our best footy otherwise we're not coming back next week," said the flanker.
"Sometimes, in play-offs footy, you've got a couple of opportunities and if you can nail them, maybe that's all it's going to take.
"At the end of the day, if you don't play well and don't do you own things well, you've got no chance."
The Canes beat the Crusaders 29-19 on March 10 but lost the return match 24-13 two weeks later.
At the end of the regular season, the Crusaders finished 12 points clear of their semi-final opponents, and coach Scott Robertson has named a strong side – including a pack made up entirely of All Blacks.
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Latest Comments
Perofeta came back and was available for the eoyt right? Or was that why Love was in the squad (but got injured in the last week)?
It was such a frustrating year. Perofeta looked a service stop gap until Jordan was fit, but then got injured. Plummer was selected because of Pero's injury and dmac shat the bed in the second half in Australia but Clarke (?) got himself binned at the 65 min mark so Plummer couldn't come on (at least with the risk adverse Razors thinking) when he was planned to.
So many other exciting opportunities that could have happened without injuries, but then theyre probably balanced by knowing Sititi probably wouldn't have been given a chance without multiple injuries happened.
Go to commentsIf they want to improve they need a backs coach. Thats the big area they have failed this year. Talent isnt the problem. Coaching is.
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