Rugby: Stung Canes will turn attention to Reds after first loss of the season

Wycliff Palu of the Waratahs is tackled by Beauden Barrett and Ma'a Nonu of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

This week will start with a different feeling for the Hurricanes.

The mixed vibes of a loss will have washed through the camp and they will take a renewed work ethic to training at Rugby League Park at Newtown in Wellington.

Before they were tipped over 29-24 by the Waratahs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday afternoon, they hadn't tasted defeat under new coach Chris Boyd. Their perfect start to the season extended seven games before the Waratahs bullied them with their big men at the Cake Tin.

It was a game the Hurricanes could have won - they had their share of chances in the first spell - but they will turn their attention to meeting the Reds in Brisbane on Sunday.

"We've just got to stick to our plan, stick to our guns and do what we do best and turn up on Monday with the right attitude," Hurricanes loose forward Brad Shields said. "It's only one loss, you've got to be optimistic, we are a good team and we can start again and move forward."

The Reds have been disappointing this season but they upset the Cheetahs 18-17 in Bloemfontein during the weekend as they breathed some life into their campaign.

The game looks like a classic banana-skin encounter for the Hurricanes given they will travel to Queensland with a 7-1 record and they can further cement themselves at the top of the standings with a win. The Chiefs are only one point behind the Hurricanes in the New Zealand conference pecking order.

"They're a pretty good team when they're on," Shields said of the Reds.

Saturday's defeat to the Waratahs shows how tight Super Rugby is given the defending champions came in to the match in 10th spot on the ladder. They've since jumped to seventh.

Hurricanes skipper Conrad Smith was left to lament a lack of calm, particularly during the second half, as they couldn't make the most of the territory and possession they enjoyed. "We were creating a lot of opportunities and we've just got to show some more maturity there and experience and keep your composure a bit," Smith said. "Maybe that let us down a few times."

Despite coming into the game as outsiders, it wasn't a complete surprise to see the Waratahs win considering the talent they possess in the backs with the likes of Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau. "They're a good rugby side and they'll win a lot more games this year," Smith said.

Lock Will Skelton was also a dominant force for the Waratahs as he put in an impressive 80-minute shift with ball in hand.

At the halfway point of their season, the Hurricanes are in a great place. They just need to kick on from this point.