Latest news with #ClarkLaidlaw
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Hurricanes not interested in being lucky loser
Coach Clark Laidlaw of the Hurricanes Photo: Masanori Udagawa / PHOTOSPORT The Hurricanes are only thinking about winning as they prepare for Saturday's Super Rugby play-off game against the Brumbies in Canberra. The Hurricanes scored a big win over Moana Pasifika on Saturday to finish fourth in the standings. It means they will travel to Canberra this weekend, while top qualifier the Chiefs host the Blues and second seeds the Crusaders play the Reds. The schedule has the Brumbies-Hurricanes game last. If results go to seedings in the earlier games and the Chiefs beat the Blues and the Crusaders beat the Reds, then the Brumbies and Hurricanes will play each other knowing that no matter what the result they will both qualify for the semi-finals. Under a new format this season, the highest ranking loser from the three games will qualify for the semi-finals. Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw said that situation is not something he is thinking about. "That's seven days away and two games away that scenario might play itself out," Laidlaw said. "If the Crusaders lose and we win, we got a home semi so there's another scenario we might have to think about. "I've never gone into a game of rugby thinking we might want to lose, so it will be all guns blazing and we'll get ready for it. Raymond Tuputupu of the Hurricanes celebrates his try. Photo: Elias Rodriguez / Laidlaw said injuries to backs Ruben Love and Peter Umaga-Jenson from the Moana Pasifika game appeared minor while he could have the use of hooker Asafo Aumua, lock Caleb Delany and winger Ngane Punivai after they missed that game. The Hurricanes beat the Brumbies earlier this season having not won in Canberra since 2017. Super Rugby play-off games: Friday, 7.05pm: Crusaders v Reds; Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Saturday, 7.05pm: Chiefs v Blues; FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Saturday, 9.35pm: Brumbies v Hurricanes; GIO Stadium, Canberra
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Hurricanes lose Riley Higgins to broken leg for Super Rugby season
Riley Higgins poses for a photo with fans. Photo: Masanori Udagawa The Hurricanes have lost midfielder Riley Higgins for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season, with the team revealing the midfielder played on a broken leg during last week's win over the Highlanders. "He's actually broken his leg, we just found out last night," coach Clark Laidlaw said. "He managed to play 25 minutes with a leg injury that's going to put him out of the season. "He's going to be joining Brayden [Iose] out of the team for the rest of the year." Higgins has a lower leg fracture, while Iose was ruled out of the rest of the season on Wednesday with an ankle injury. Riley Higgins has a lower leg fracture. Photo: Mark Evans/ActionPress Both injuries are big blows to a Hurricanes seeking to secure a place in the playoffs with two rounds remaining. They face the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday and host Moana Pasifika next week. Laidlaw said losing Higgins was a hit they do without. "He was playing well," he said. "Tough start to the year with a broken hand or thumb. "Tough for him and we need to get around him. He's in a moonboot for the next six weeks. "It's disappointing for him and for us." However, the coach is confident Peter Umaga-Jensen will fill the hole left in the Hurricanes backline. "Peter had a really good start to the year and he's in form, so it's another opportunity for him to come back. It's been a tight selection [in the midfield] over the last couple of weeks and Peter brings different attributes, which we think compliments Billy [Proctor] in the midfield. so we're excited to see him get another crack." While Higgins and Iose are out, loose forward Devan Flanders is back from a broken leg. A win over the Reds this weekend would likely seal the Hurricanes place in the top six playoffs, but they have their eyes on a top-four finish. "It's a real opportunity to try and put ourselves in fourth," Laidlaw said. "With the way the competition works, if you get to a quarter-final in fourth versus third and you were to lose, and one and two seeds win, there's a lifeline there if it's needed, so we want to chase that as hard as we can. "We certainly feel like we have been playing well. Since the Blues game, we've had a draw and won the rest of the games. "We're far happier with the way we're playing, but playing the Reds in Brisbane, maybe they've lost one game here. It's a tough place to come, a lot of teams struggle up here." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Hurricanes v Highlanders: what you need to know
Photo: RNZ Hurricanes v Highlanders Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 16 May Sky Stadium, Wellington Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport The Hurricanes are on the up, coming off their bye week and two good wins before that. Clark Laidlaw's side is currently sixth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder and in the play-off hunt, so will be confident of getting the full five points out of this one. The Highlanders also had last weekend off but things have been steadily getting more desperate for them, they're currently in 10th spot and the main motivation now will simply be to not finish last. Timoci Tavatavanawai during the Highlanders v Hurricanes, Super Rugby Pacific match, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. Photo: Michael Thomas/ActionPress Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Zach Gallagher, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Peter Lakai, 8. Brayden Iose, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Ngatungane Punivai, 12. Riley Higgins, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Bailyn Sullivan, 15. Callum Harkin Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Fatafehi Fineanganofo Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Mitch Dunshea, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Sean Withy, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Taine Robinson, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13. Tanielu Tele'a, 14. Jonah Lowe, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Bench: 16. Soane Vikena, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Sosefo Kautai, 19. Oliver Haig, 20. Michael Loft, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Cameron Millar, 23. Thomas Umaga-Jensen Brett Cameron of the Hurricanes during the Super Rugby Pacific match, Crusaders Vs Hurricanes, at the Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 15 March, 2024. Photo: John Davidson / Photosport More good news on the injury front now that the Canes not only have a fully fit midfield, but now some depth at first five. Brett Cameron is back ahead of schedule and comes onto the bench, which means now Laidlaw should be free to move Ruben Love back to fullback in the coming weeks. Zach Gallagher is also back at lock, while Bailyn Sullivan moves to the wing to replace Kini Naholo. Jona Nareki during the Brumbies v Highlanders, Super Rugby Pacific match, GIO Stadium, Canberra. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber/ActionPress Taine Robinson moves back into first five for the Highlanders, while Jona Nareki and Tanielu Tele'a come back from injury to bolster the backline. A reshuffle in the loose forwards sees Sean Withy move to number eight to replace Hugh Renton, Veveni Lasaqa starts at openside. Billy Proctor of the Hurricanes scores try during Super Rugby Pacific match - Hurricanes v Waratahs at Sky Stadium, Wellington. Photo: Elias Rodriguez / Photosport The Hurricanes have won their last eight Super Rugby Pacific matches against the Highlanders, which is their longest win streak against them in Super Rugby history. The Highlanders have won only one of their last eight Super Rugby Pacific matches away from Forsyth Barr Stadium - a 31-29 victory against Moana Pasifika. They've lost each of their three games away from the venue since then, conceding 36.3 points per game. Despite only being back for two games, Billy Proctor has beaten 7.3 defenders per 80 minutes. That's the best average of any player in the competition. ''The Hurricanes are a quality side with lots of All Blacks. When we played them earlier, they were a team in a really tough position, and they've been able to battle their way out and into finals footy, which highlights the quality of their roster.'' - Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph. "Pretty big news for us is that Brett Cameron is back on the bench. His ability to rehab and recover faster than any of us thought. The work he and our medical crew have done has been unreal, and they deserve a special mention. He's good to go." - Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw. Hurricanes 20 - 18 Highlanders If the Canes do go on and make something happen this season, this game will be seen as their turning point. A massive defensive effort in the second half saw them defend a slender lead, including a couple of clutch penalties on their own line. Ruben Love scored the winning try but really the team's mindset went from losers to winners due to the sheer bravery of the tackling. Since that last meeting, the Canes have gotten much better and the Highlanders a lot worse. This should be a comfortable win for the home team as their late season form leading them toward a play-off berth, however if the Highlanders can keep the score close at the break, it may end up being a bit closer than expected.
Reuters
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Chiefs brace for Hurricanes in windy Wellington
MELBOURNE, May 1 (Reuters) - The Wellington Hurricanes left wreckage in Canberra last weekend and will hope to inflict more damage on the Waikato Chiefs on their return home to New Zealand's windy capital on Saturday. The fifth-placed Hurricanes reignited their Super Rugby Pacific season with the 35-29 win at the third-placed ACT Brumbies, putting the stamp on a successful tour of Australia after holding Western Force to a 17-17 draw in Perth. The leading Chiefs will be a step up for Clark Laidlaw's men but the visitors have been depleted by injuries to key players, including All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie and centre Anton Lienert-Brown. "We're excited for the game this weekend, Chiefs are the top of the table, and we know what sort of challenge that will present," Laidlaw said. "It'll be a good opportunity to test ourselves .... and build a bit of momentum." Victory for the Chiefs would mean breathing space from the second-placed Canterbury Crusaders who are level on 37 points but sit out the round with a bye. Eight points adrift, the third-placed Brumbies host the New South Wales Waratahs, who return from a bye following an away loss to Fijian Drua. The Waratahs, who have slipped out of the top six, broke a 13-match losing streak against the Brumbies in March but have not beaten anyone outside of Sydney this season. The Stephen Larkham-coached Brumbies, meanwhile, have won their last seven at home against the Waratahs and will expect to rebound on Saturday in the run-up to the playoffs. With five rounds left in the regular season, the Queensland Reds are two points behind the Brumbies and challenging their traditional standing as Australia's best Super Rugby outfit. REDS TO SUVA The Reds head to Suva hoping for a first away win over bottom-placed Drua on Saturday and with coach Les Kiss free to focus purely on the team. Kiss was confirmed on Wednesday as Joe Schmidt's successor as Australia coach from mid-2026 after months of speculation. "We go to Fiji on Saturday and do a job there," Kiss said. "I'll just be going back and doing what I can on a weekly basis, on a daily basis, to build something that's special (at the Reds)." The Auckland Blues' title defence is all but over following their 35-21 defeat by the Reds last weekend but the defending champions will bank on keeping their mathematical playoffs hopes alive when they host the Force at Eden Park on Friday. The Blues' sole defeat to the Force was back in 2008 at North Harbour Stadium, and the Perth team have been lamentable in New Zealand this season. Thrashed 56-22 by the Chiefs last week, the Force will hope the return of 36-year-old veteran Kurtley Beale from injury can lift them. Beale said he pondered retiring during his rehab from a ruptured Achilles. "But there was something burning inside of me, deep down, to continue to play," said the 95-cap Wallaby. "Not every player gets to finish on their terms." Moana Pasifika will hope the Blues beat the Force as they prepare to meet the 10th-placed Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Sunday. Eighth in the table, Moana have never beaten the Highlanders in five matches but a breakthrough win coupled with a Force loss could see Moana leap into the top six sides who will contest the playoffs.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Chiefs brace for Hurricanes in windy Wellington
MELBOURNE - The Wellington Hurricanes left wreckage in Canberra last weekend and will hope to inflict more damage on the Waikato Chiefs on their return home to New Zealand's windy capital on Saturday. The fifth-placed Hurricanes reignited their Super Rugby Pacific season with the 35-29 win at the third-placed ACT Brumbies, putting the stamp on a successful tour of Australia after holding Western Force to a 17-17 draw in Perth. The leading Chiefs will be a step up for Clark Laidlaw's men but the visitors have been depleted by injuries to key players, including All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie and centre Anton Lienert-Brown. "We're excited for the game this weekend, Chiefs are the top of the table, and we know what sort of challenge that will present," Laidlaw said. "It'll be a good opportunity to test ourselves .... and build a bit of momentum." Victory for the Chiefs would mean breathing space from the second-placed Canterbury Crusaders who are level on 37 points but sit out the round with a bye. Eight points adrift, the third-placed Brumbies host the New South Wales Waratahs, who return from a bye following an away loss to Fijian Drua. The Waratahs, who have slipped out of the top six, broke a 13-match losing streak against the Brumbies in March but have not beaten anyone outside of Sydney this season. The Stephen Larkham-coached Brumbies, meanwhile, have won their last seven at home against the Waratahs and will expect to rebound on Saturday in the run-up to the playoffs. With five rounds left in the regular season, the Queensland Reds are two points behind the Brumbies and challenging their traditional standing as Australia's best Super Rugby outfit. REDS TO SUVA The Reds head to Suva hoping for a first away win over bottom-placed Drua on Saturday and with coach Les Kiss free to focus purely on the team. Kiss was confirmed on Wednesday as Joe Schmidt's successor as Australia coach from mid-2026 after months of speculation. "We go to Fiji on Saturday and do a job there," Kiss said. "I'll just be going back and doing what I can on a weekly basis, on a daily basis, to build something that's special (at the Reds)." The Auckland Blues' title defence is all but over following their 35-21 defeat by the Reds last weekend but the defending champions will bank on keeping their mathematical playoffs hopes alive when they host the Force at Eden Park on Friday. The Blues' sole defeat to the Force was back in 2008 at North Harbour Stadium, and the Perth team have been lamentable in New Zealand this season. Thrashed 56-22 by the Chiefs last week, the Force will hope the return of 36-year-old veteran Kurtley Beale from injury can lift them. Beale said he pondered retiring during his rehab from a ruptured Achilles. "But there was something burning inside of me, deep down, to continue to play," said the 95-cap Wallaby. "Not every player gets to finish on their terms." Moana Pasifika will hope the Blues beat the Force as they prepare to meet the 10th-placed Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Sunday. Eighth in the table, Moana have never beaten the Highlanders in five matches but a breakthrough win coupled with a Force loss could see Moana leap into the top six sides who will contest the playoffs. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
