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Hurricanes Star Billy Proctor Has Eye On The Prize Among All Blacks Chat
Billy Proctor's form could be impossible to ignore for the All Blacks selectors.
It's no co-incidence Proctor's return to the Hurricanes midfield has coincided with the team's return to winning ways.
The All Blacks midfielder missed a large chunk of the Super Rugby season with a niggly achilles injury, but he's back and making a big difference, with the Wellington based side unbeaten since his inclusion.
The Hurricanes were in eighth place when he returned against the Western Force in the second half of April, but they're now assured of a place in the top six playoffs with one round remaining.
They sit fourth and could cement that spot with a win against Moana Pasifika in Wellington on Saturday.
Proctor was happy with the way he'd been playing.
"I'm pretty happy with where I'm at. It's been what, four or five games now, finding my feet and feeling pretty good. Hopefully we can continue on the same track," Proctor said.
"We've secured our spot in the playoffs and that's all you can ask for at this stage of the season. At the start of the year it was my goal to be in the playoffs and that win cemented our spot there, so we're stoked."
While the two-cap midfielder was keen to make the All Blacks squad for the three-test series in New Zealand in July, he was adamant his focus was on helping the Hurricanes secure a top four finish and push as deep into the playoffs as possible.
"I'm just here to do my best for this team. That's all I can control and all I can worry about," Proctor said.
"All the rest, I'll let other people talk and do what they want with it.
"Getting a taste of [test rugby] last year, it's definitely where I want to be, in that environment and playing for the best team in New Zealand. But as I said my focus is on here."
Hurricanes assistant coach Bryn Evans said Proctor's impact on the Hurricanes had been significant.
"He brings experience, he brings a calmness in that back line," Evans said.
"At times in Super Rugby the ball can be going all over the show and to have a guy that has that direction and can take that deep breath is awesome for us."
The new top six finals format means it's important to finish as high up the ladder as possible.
The highest ranked loser from the first week of the playoffs will get a second chance and advance to the semi-finals.
The Hurricanes know this and Evans said they wouldn't be resting any top players against Moana Pasifika, who beat them earlier this season, as the host seek to secure fourth in the standings.
Evans believed Moana, who were coming off a hammering from the Chiefs and must win in Wellington to secure their first finals appearance, would be tough to beat.
"Against the Chiefs in that sort of form anyone would have found it difficult," Evans said.
"We will definitely give Moana the respect they deserve. They've taken us once this season.
"They've put in a number of good performances. They're coming here in form, we think, and we have to prepare for that."
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