Hurricanes stand firm in ill winds
The Hurricanes will adhere to their clinically efficient game plan and not allow the death of Jerry Collins or impending departure of three stalwarts to deter them as they seek to end 20 years of frustration tomorrow. The Hurricanes host an improving Highlanders outfit in the first all-New Zealand Super rugby final since the "Fog Final" in 2006, when the Wellington-based side lost to the Crusaders.Unable to match that potential in an inconsistent period since, Chris Boyd's side have this season shaken off the tag as a team with a million-dollar backline but lacking steel, particularly when put under pressure.That ability to handle stressful situations was no more evident than in the last month, following the June 5 death of former loose forward Collins in a car crash in France.The team found out about Collins' demise an hour before their regular season clash with the Highlanders in Napier and proceeded to post a 56-20 thrashing of the visitors.Hurricanes stalwarts Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Jeremy Thrush are among six players leaving the team after the final and while the side was aware of the significance of hosting their first final at a sold-out Wellington Regional Stadium, sentimentality will have no role to play in the match."There is no emotional button in this game," Boyd said yesterday."We need to keep clear minds and to stick to a process," he added of the approach that has served them so well this season."How could the emotion not take care of itself when there are 35000 people at the Cake Tin and it's game on?" ..
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