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Live sport on SN this weekend‘Hardly skipped a beat’: Kirifi settles back into All Blacks
Sport Nation • October 16th, 2026 10:01 am
Du'Plessis Kirifi | Photo: Photosport
Du'Plessis Kirifi has made an immediate impression after joining the All Blacks this week, with assistant coach Mike Blair praising how quickly the Hurricanes co-captain has re-integrated into the team.
Kirifi was not named in Dave Rennie’s initial All Blacks squads, but has joined the team as an injury replacement for Anton Segner ahead of Saturday’s second Bledisloe Test against Australia in Sydney, kicking off at 6pm.
Blair said Kirifi had quickly familiarised himself with the team’s systems after arriving to camp last Sunday.
“He's hardly skipped a beat, and I think he'll bring a real energy,” Blair told Sport Nation’s Millsy & Guy.
“I think he's integrated himself really well into the group. He joined us on Sunday, and his knowledge of what we're trying to do already, he's got his head around our shapes, our maps, our defence, our language, so that's been really impressive.”
Why Du'Plessis Kirifi missed out on All Blacks squad for SA tour | Sport Nation
Blair also explained the eight-cap and versatile All Black comes in at a crucial time.
“We know what he can do around the breakdown, from a kind of jackal perspective, but also his brutality around the clean, which is where Australia are really strong.
“And with his body height and contact, he's a good carrier for us as well, so we expect to see all of that.”
Listen to the full interview below:
