Rugby: Players need ruthless streak, says Russell

Chris Eaton carries the ball during the semifinal loss. Photo / Getty Images

Hawke's Bay players need to be more ruthless - that's the summation from coach Peter Russell after the brave Magpies tripped at the second-to-last hurdle for the third year in a row and for the second year running at the hands of Canterbury.

Beaten by Canterbury 20-3 in Friday night's semifinal, a repeat of their defeat to the red and blacks at the same stage last year, the match was the Bay's third defeat in the semifinals in three years.

Russell admitted things hadn't gone well for them, despite going into the match confident they could upset the defending champions.

"It was a case of the speed wobbles inside the first 10 minutes and it went downhill from there," Russell said.

"But we are one of the top four teams in the country for the third year in a row and, not being from a Super 14 franchise, that's very gratifying.

"It's been an exciting year. We flew under the radar in the first season and made the semifinals and people said we wouldn't do it again. But we did. And we maintained our momentum into a third year. But once again we're a week too short."

The big question, though, is how they take it to the next level. How do they go from being a top-four side into top dogs?

"It's about leadership," Russell offered. "There's only so much that you can do from a coaching perspective. The players have to take that on board and look at themselves. There needs to be a ruthlessness in preparation and mind. One thing they need to learn about is being resilient under pressure. It's asking them to go to the well each week and to dig deeper and deeper.

"For some of them it's been a long year with the Super 14, junior [All Blacks] and now the Air New Zealand Cup. Maybe as coaches we have to manage players a little better and improve depth to get through the competition better."

Building that depth needs to be done from within the province and Russell is optimistic about the quality of players coming through underneath the Air New Zealand Cup side.

It's one of the reasons he's expected to stay with the union for another season. His contract is up but he is in early negotiations to extend his contract into a fourth season.

He took over Hawke's Bay in 2007, after the side finished ninth of the 14 sides in 2006, and has now guided them to three semifinals.

He is keen to coach the Hurricanes when Colin Cooper departs after next season but will return to Dunedin as Highlanders assistant for the 2010 Super 14.

"You could throw the towel in but I don't do that sort of thing," Russell said when asked if he would remain with the Magpies. "We have done a hell of a lot of good work with the players and the community and Hawke's Bay rugby over the last three years and it's a fabulous place to be."