Shields hails Hurricanes 'outside the box' approach

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Captain Brad Shields said that attitude was critical because they felt that it was required to win any competition.

"If you stick to the status quo, you get tripped up eventually.

"Moving to the Brumbies this week, it's much the same. We've tweaked our training week, so we're always thinking, we're always problem-solving and we travel on Thursday, so we have shuffled a few days around. But it's going to be how quickly we can get back on the horse."

Shields said the team had the reward for the effort they put in before going to Fiji at the weekend.

"It's not easy to go on the road in Fiji and get a win. Everything that week was great and to come away with a win helps build character."

Playing in the evening was a help as it was not as hot as during day games. However, the humidity made the ball sweaty to handle.

Having to cope with three players getting yellow cards, two of them almost together had tested their ability to perform under pressure.

"We put a lot of planning into the week in terms of how we wanted to play. Things didn't go quite as planned, but at the same time, you've got to go through those experiences to grow and learn how guys perform under pressure.

"If that didn't happen, maybe we would have done things slightly differently, and maybe we would have tripped up."

Shields said it was pleasing that they could defend their line for a long time and then turn that around to score a bonus-point try.

"It could have been easy to shut up shop and kick the ball out and take the game. But those points are going to be very crucial towards the end of the season."

With the Brumbies up next, a lot of preparation had gone into both them and the Drua, and it was about what happened on and off the field as well.

"The more we get it right, and the balances as a squad and management, the best equipped we are to compete on the discipline."

With an unbroken run of eight wins, they appreciated enjoying each win along the way.

"Each week, it's feeling better and creating confidence. It's not complacency but confidence in how we're growing and getting better and learning to win in different ways.

"If we can keep ironing out those smaller details and come in each week fresh in the mindset with a new challenge, we are going to get better."

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