His players have spent the month of June in far flung rugby outposts but Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett is confident they’ll meld when Super Rugby resumes in Hamilton on Friday.
Hammett’s starting team to face the Chiefs comprises seven players involved in the All Blacks’ three-Test series against France while Samoan internationals Alapati Leiua and Tusi Pisi are on the reserve bench, having returned from the four-nation tournament in South Africa.
Not included is flanker Ardie Savea, who captained New Zealand at the world junior championship in France.
Hammett said his players spent an important hour on Tuesday de-cluttering their minds ahead of a match the ninth-placed Hurricanes must win to have any chance of reaching the playoffs.
“There will be different feelings, mentally, right across the board. But I know all those All Black boys, they’re passionate about the Hurricanes, so I’m pretty confident they’ll be up,” he said.
The players not involved in international rugby used the three weeks off in different ways, either taking a complete break or playing club rugby.
They came together for a resounding win over the Crusaders in a friendly match at Levin on Friday and Hammett asked those same players to show leadership at an intense practice session on Wednesday.
“There was demand on the guys who haven’t been away on international duty to make sure that they set the tone and let the All Blacks come in and focus on their roles.”
With three games remaining in the season, the Hurricanes must not only topple the second-placed Chiefs but must also win at home to the Highlanders and away to the Crusaders in the final round to have any realistic hope of reaching the knockout phase for the first time since 2009.
Hammett has made three changes from the side who started their last match, a 30-23 loss away to the Brumbies on May 31.
A shoulder injury suffered by fullback Andre Taylor in the Levin game sees him replaced by James Marshall while Leiua makes way on the right wing for Matt Proctor.
Up front, openside flanker Karl Lowe replaces Jack Lam, who was also in the Samoa squad.
Flanker Faifile Levave is battling a foot injury so is bracketed with Blade Thomson on the bench. Thomson will make his Super Rugby debut if required.
Hurricanes: James Marshall, Matt Proctor, Conrad Smith, Reynold Lee-Lo, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Karl Lowe, Brad Shields, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Ben May, Dane Coles, Ben Franks. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Reggie Goodes, Mark Reddish, Faifile Levave/Blade Thomson, Chris Smylie, Tusi Pisi, Alapati Leiua