Cruden: Chiefs not underdogs in Hurricanes semi-final
Sunday 24 July 2016 16:27, UK
The Chiefs might be the lowest seeded of the Super Rugby semi-finalists but captain Aaron Cruden insisted his side are anything but underdogs as they prepare to take on the top-ranked Hurricanes in Wellington next weekend.
The 2012 and 2013 champions dispatched the Stormers 60-21 in Newlands on Saturday, setting up a clash against their domestic rivals.
The Hurricanes finished the regular season in top spot overall, but All Black Cruden says his side are not accepting the underdog tag for the clash.
"We don't consider ourselves in that light," Cruden said. "We'll head home, get to sleep a few nights in our own beds and then go down to Wellington pretty excited about playing in a semi-final.
"Rugby fields are all the same when you get out and cross over that white line. We think we have every chance and hopefully Wellington will be nice to us."
The Hurricanes made light work of the Sharks in their quarter-final in Wellington, easing to a 41-0 victory, and Cruden believes his side will need to put defensive pressure on their opponents if they are to win this Saturday.
"They are good on the counter-attack and turnover ball," said Cruden.
"Against the Sharks the weather conditions weren't great but they still moved the ball and backed their skill-set.
"We have to make sure we limit their opportunities and play at the right end of the field. But we expect that they will chance their arm from anywhere, even deep in their own half.
"If we are alert defensively, if we are sharp, then hopefully we will be one step ahead and we'll be the ones who apply the pressure, and not them to us."
There were many pleasing aspects for the Chiefs in the convincing win at Newlands, but Cruden singled out the defence in spite of the eight tries scored by the visitors.
"Our defence against the Highlanders (in the last regulation season game) was good and we wanted to continue to build on that in the quarter-final," he said.
"We didn't sit back on our laurels once we were ahead. Hopefully we will build more on this, heading into a semi-final against a pretty good Wellington Hurricanes."
With three of the four Super Rugby semi-finalists coming from world champions New Zealand, rugby in the country is in good health, according to Cruden.
"The amount of young talent coming through in New Zealand never ceases to amaze I suppose," he said.
"In our squad we have a lot of guys in their first or second year of Super Rugby and who all step up in pressure situations. It's exciting times."
