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Sports44 FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 New Zealand gears up for ‘brutal’ Super 15 final WELLINGTON: The Wellington Hurricanes- Super Rugby match. “It’s going to be a real part.” The last two teams standing were the give them too much space and they will make Otago Highlanders Super 15 final tomorrow “is brutal game,” said Hansen, whose finals’ expe- best-performing attacking sides in the regular the most of that with their running, offloading going to be brutal” and could damage New rience as assistant coach of the champion season with the Hurricanes heading the try- and continuity play. So we need to be able to Zealand’s World Cup strength, according to All Canterbury Crusaders in 2000 fuels his trepida- scoring list with 62, one more than the shut that all down,” said McLeod. The Blacks coach Steve Hansen. But he admits he tion about the risk of injury to key All Blacks Highlanders. Hurricanes, meanwhile, are sweating on the fit- wouldn’t have it any other way with southern ahead of the World Cup beginning in ness of Ardie Savea, a central figure in their hemisphere club rugby supremacy at stake. September. Hurricanes threats attacking drive, who is suffering from a leg The Hurricanes, with 12 current All Blacks in “Whilst I’m excited about it being two New But championships are often won on injury and has been bracketed with Callum their squad, compared to five with the Zealand teams, there is a little bit of holding defense where the ‘Canes were second best to Gibbins for the seven jersey. The winner will Highlanders, have been installed as favorites your breath because you don’t want any of the ACT Brumbies side in the regular season, be the eighth franchise to wear the Super by the pragmatists for the sold-out game in those young men to get injured-or anyone for but the Highlanders had the worst defensive Rugby crown in the 20-year history of the tour- Wellington. that matter-but not the 17 because they are record of the top six qualifiers. The nament and the fourth from New Zealand fol- Rugby romantics, however, are backing the earmarked to come in and play some of these Highlanders have since conceded only three lowing the Canterbury Crusaders (seven cham- Highlanders who field a band of rugby nobod- Test matches that we’ve got to play before we tries as they outsmarted Waikato Chiefs and pionships), the Auckland Blues (three) and ies with a never-say-die attitude. In what will go to the World Cup. “But watching the two NSW Waratahs in the playoffs. Defense coach Waikato Chiefs (two). Three Australian sides be an emotional encounter-neither side has teams play, it’s going to be brutal. “There’s no Scott McLeod said they had a “big day” on have claimed the title-the ACT Brumbies (two), previously won the title-several senior players, way you can expect anyone to hold back. You Tuesday working on a strategy to counter the the NSW Waratahs (one) and Queensland Reds including Hurricanes figureheads Conrad can’t. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Hurricanes. (one). The Northern Bulls (three) are the only Smith and Ma’a Nonu, will be playing their last both teams. The emotion of it will play a big “They’ve got threats across the park. You winners from South Africa.— AFP Hurricanes concentrate Love stays, Chandler moves, on basics to end drought WELLINGTON: The Wellington Hurricanes will adhere to dollars fly in NBA free agency their clinically efficient game plan and not allow the death of Jerry Collins or impending departure of three NEW YORK: Kevin Love has unfinished busi- guard Danny Green, who got $45 million speculation Love might bolt after one sea- stalwarts to form an emotional barrier as they seek to ness in Cleveland and Tyson Chandler will for four years. son in Cleveland, though he had said end 20 years of frustration tomorrow. The Hurricanes be conducting his in Phoenix. The first full Aldridge was among the top big men repeatedly he planned to stay. He said he host an improving Otago Highlanders outfit tomorrow in day of NBA free agency featured skyrocket- available when the market opened early had been in contact recently with manage- the first all-New Zealand Super Rugby final since the ing salaries and a flurry of moves, though no Wednesday morning, considered by many ment and his teammates, alluding to “Fog Final” in 2006, when the Wellington-based side lost decision yet from LaMarcus Aldridge. the best one who might consider moving. spending time poolside with LeBron James. to the Canterbury Crusaders. Unable to match that Players and teams agreed to more than $1 The Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan was another “Yeah, of course I’ve heard the free agency potential in an inconsistent period since, Chris Boyd’s billion worth of deals. Love made his choice top big man on that list. There had been rumors,” Love wrote. — AP side have this season shaken off the tag as a team with a quickly, opting to stay with the Cavaliers on million dollar backline but lacking steel, particularly a five-year deal that could be worth more when put under pressure. than $110 million. He revealed his decision That ability to handle stressful situations was no more in a piece in The Players’ Tribune. evident than in the last month, following the June 5 “We have unfinished business and now death of former loose forward Collins in a car crash in it’s time to get back to work,” Love wrote. France. The team found out about Collins’ demise an Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy also hour before their regular season clash with the stayed put in Chicago for around $115 mil- Highlanders in Napier and proceeded to post a 56-20 lion combined, Goran Dragic is remaining thrashing of the visitors. They then beat the Waikato in Miami and Paul Millsap will stick with Chiefs in their season finale in an away game in their for- Atlanta. But Paul Pierce and plenty other mer feeder province of Taranaki and also looked utterly players were on the move with salaries clinical in their 29-9 victory over the ACT Brumbies in the soaring ahead of next year’s new TV con- semi-final last week. tracts that might make Wednesday’s action Hurricanes stalwarts Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu and seem tame next summer. “I LUV that the Jeremy Thrush are among six players leaving the team players are bank rolling, capitalize and seize after the final and while the side was aware of the signifi- the moment,” Hall of Fame guard and TNT cance of hosting their first final at a sold-out Wellington analyst Reggie Miller wrote on Twitter. Regional Stadium, sentimentality will have no role to “Trust me the owners and the league are play in the match. “There is no emotional button in this making money, so should you.” game,” Boyd told reporters yesterday. “We need to keep Chandler will get his in Phoenix, taking clear minds and to stick to a process,” he added of the $52 million over four years to leave Dallas, approach that has served them so well this season. “How while Atlanta’s DeMarre Carroll agreed to a could the emotion not take care of itself when there are deal with Toronto for $60 million over four 35,000 people at the Cake Tin and it’s game on?” years. Pierce then left Washington to Galvanised cast-offs reunite with former Boston coach Doc The Highlanders, who were beaten by the Crusaders Rivers with the Los Angeles Clippers on a in their only other appearance in the final in 1999, have $10 million contract. Terms of all the deals also exceeded pre-season expectations just by making were confirmed to The Associated Press by the final. The Dunedin-based side has been cobbled people with knowledge of the details. They together by cast-offs, other side’s second stringers or in were granted anonymity because contracts the case of All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake can only be agreed to during the first week Naholo, players who were simply discarded before they of free agency. They can’t be signed until had a chance to prove their credentials. July 9, after next season’s salary cap is set. That mentality has helped galvanize the team, some- Millsap was rewarded for his strong play thing which the coaches looked for when they recruited in Atlanta with a three-year deal worth their squad. “We select people on character and hard about $59 million, as the Hawks made sure work and that’s what you’ve seen from this side this not to lose both starting forwards after year,” assistant coach Scott McLeod said. The Carroll’s departure. Aldridge was busy Highlanders may have been beaten twice by the meeting with teams for a second straight Hurricanes this season but easily dispatched two-time day while he decides whether to leave champions the Chiefs and last year’s winners the NSW Portland. His representatives wrote on Waratahs in the playoffs and were not being taken light- Twitter on Wednesday afternoon that he ly. “They are worthy finalists,” Boyd said. “From the last had made no decisions, even following CALIFORNIA: In this file photo, Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles time we played them they have secured top-six with vic- reports that the Lakers had been eliminat- pass under pressure from Carlos Boozer of the Los Angeles Lakers during their tory over the Blues and beaten the Chiefs and Waratahs.

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