ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
EMOTIONALLY WOUNDED
Jarred Dirk, 36, has accepted all available evidence that the Hurricanes should, in theory, win tomorrow’s Super Rugby final against the Chiefs in Wellington.
And yet, he is still deeply unconvinced.
Because somewhere in the back of his mind is a permanent recording from the 2015 Super Rugby Final where the Hurricanes lost at home to the Highlanders, who were arguably made up of a bunch of battlers and no names at the time,
The match ended 21–14. Not in the way Hurricanes fans had planned. Worse still, the decisive moment involved a try awarded to Elliot Dixon that Dirk still describes as the most haunting moment etched in his brain.
“I’d love to relax, but I remember what happened the last time I relaxed early. If we’re up by 20, I’ll start thinking we’re only halfway safe. I can’t stand the thought of a smiling Damian Mckenzie celebrating.”
“I’m not saying we’ll lose… I’m just saying I’ve mentally prepared for every possible way we could. I know we won the following year against the Lions. But there’s just something still so haunting about the 2015 grand final loss to the Highlanders ”
More to come.
