The Real Deal

Hurricanes supporters have had reasons to get their hopes up before.  It's been that way since day one of official professional rugby with the 1996 Super 12 season opener when the Hurricanes combined with the Blues to put on the best advertisement the competition could have hoped for in a 28-36 loss, drifting off to finish 9th while the Blues went on to take the inaugural title. 2 years later the upped the ante to get us far as the semis before falling to the Brumbies in the stronghold that is Canberra. That was followed by a pocketful of midtable finishes until the 2003 season where they were one of 3 NZ teams to make the cut, with only the Brumbies in 4th spoiling Kiwi domination, before going down as many have before and after them to the Crusaders in Canterbury country. 2 seasons later they followed it up with another playoff spot only for the Crusaders to show them who was boss, the Hurricanes for many years struggling to show the class necessary for the big games versus big time opposition. Welcome to the inaugural Super 14 season and the team from Wellington made it easier on themselves by finishing the season strongly, taking 2nd spot behind nemisis Canterbury before going down 19-12 in an ugly (if you can call ugly what you can't see) encounter in a fog ridden final at Jade Stadium.  2008 was another semi appearance yet again to be haunted by a history making Crusaders outfit while in 2009 they had the joy of finishing above the Red and Blacks only to fall to the Chiefs in Hamilton in another NZ dominated playoffs.

What a joy....the Paekakariki Express, Christian Cullen

The new 6 team playoff set up that came along with the 2011 Super XV did the Hurricanes no favours with the team, to date, failing to make the cut.

They've had some great players, Captain Fantastic Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu, the irrepressible Christian Cullen, that shark above water Lome Fa'atau, Jerry the Terminator Collins, cannonball Norm Hewitt, Weepu, Roger Randle, and a score of other ABs or nearly ABs from teams gone by that are too many to name. In the early 2000s they had a team stacked in the backs with the likes of Lomu, Cullen, Umaga, Nonu, Fa'atau, Alatini, and a pack comprised of Collins, Masoe, Vanisi, So'oialo, Tito and Hore but still couldn't match it versus the giants of Super Rugby.  Giants perhaps being the appropriate term as having a backline to dazzle and a lightning fast loose trio counted for nothing when the tight 5 was too small and inconsistent.  Even of recent years it's been same old same old for Wellington fans with a backline to entertain if they actually got any front foot ball. And let's not forget the turmoil surrounding the Hammett Nonu saga.

Lome Fa'tau

So roll along 2015 and what are we seeing? 3 victories on the trot: 2 in the republic and the 3rd a banana skin win on the return in Perth.  Bye round up then back to the unpredictable 'Canes of the past?  Hammett has moved on no doubt leaving the team in a better place mentally than it was prior to his arrival.  The return of the prodigal son in Nonu.  A backline reminiscent of seasons past with class from A to Z,  6 All Blacks, even a new Jonah who is worth one individual try per game, and a choice of 15s of whom surely one will pull on the black jersey.  The bye has come perfectly for the Hurricanes.  Yes, they are injury free, but this break will allow them to take stock and they will come back feet firmly planted and frothing at the bit.

Beast Mode

So what about the pack? The return from the republic of John Plumtree with some good old hardnosed South African defence creeping into the training and playing systems is evident and now the Hurricanes have a complete team.  They may have had some luck with both results in South Africa but you ride with those and if you can stay in the game that's the nature of the beast (regarding rugby officialdom these days...).  Gone are the days of helter skelter from their 22.  Gone are the frustrating cough ups any time a roll did get on.  And gone are the soft turnovers and leaky D.  Watch any one of the 'Canes games to date.  It's the pack that's standing up.  They have frontrowers who are all knocking on the All Blacks' door. They are knocking ball carriers backwards with aggressive defence and attacking the tackle areas intelligently otherwise spreading the defence from touch to touch.  Any turnover spells danger in Super Rugby and any turnover to the Hurricanes screams look out!

The scary thing is they haven't even worked on their attacking systems yet.  But the markers have been set in place and to finish your road trip unbeaten sitting pretty at the top of the table is unthought of for any team in seasons of late.  This team now has the confidence and belief and is ready to unleash.  Look out Super XV.  Come finals time this team will be there. This team is the real deal.

The King isn't dead

If your local betting agency is offering odds on McCaw's future get in there.  A lot of speculation about what, no buts about it, the greatest rugby player there has ever been is going to do post world cup.  It's long been well documented that King Richie has no ambitions to cash in, even for one season, on the the lucrative French market.  Certainly nobody would begrudge him that, and personally seems a strange decision as nobody would even look at it as McCaw filling up his pockets with French euro, but a chance at another playing and life experience before hanging up the boots.  After all, you're a long time dead and though Richie certainly wouldn't have any troubles finding would be sponsors to pay for a globe trotting lifestyle attending rugby matches and tournaments everywhere, every rugby player knows being in the mix is a complete other world.

Long live the King

Not many AB captains have been known nationally by their first names.  Tana would have been the first and and Richie the second.  Captain Fantastic and King Richie.  Picked as a 20 yr old by John Mitchell (at least he got something right) for the end of year 2001 tour amid criticism, McCaw went on to claim the MoM award in his first ever international and played all 3 tests that tour and only 1 season later was voted Newcomer of the Year by the International Rugby Players Association. He'd go on to win 6 NPC trophies with Canterbury, 4 Super titles (as well as 4 losing finals and 5 semis),  and 9 Tri Nations/Rugby Championships, and to date, 1 World Cup.  Without this coming season he has 120 All Black victories (and 2 draws from 136 matches) and has captained the ABs more than a staggering 100 times.  He may be slowing up but he has evolved.  His effect on the match is no less such is his experience added to the mana he holds with the match officials.

Untouchable:2 yellow cards in 13 years of international rugby

This is a guy who could travel the world on his laurels but seems that doesn't sit right with him.  Remember this is a guy who turned down a royal wedding invite and a knighthood because rugby came first.  It's all of this that makes me come to one conclusion.  Is Richie going to cash in on a one off season in Europe lapping up French wine and the Mediterannean sun on the Côte d'Azur? No, he isn't.  Is he going to sign on for the NZRU in some type of mentor role?  A possibility, definitely hard to see him letting go 100%.  Or has Hansen put out a call to arms?  Woodcock, Mealamu, Carter, Conrad Smith, Nonu.....all gone post cup.  Plus a number of fringe players.  It will be one of the biggest rebuilds ever for the All Blacks despite Hansen's neverending effort at building depth and experience.  The 2016 All Blacks will need Richie more than ever before.  The NZRU are going to front up with the biggest contract they have ever undertaken, place it under their captain's nose and tell him the fate of the nation depends on him.  And Richie won't be able to say no.  One more year to bring through the new brigade.  To expose them to that "no man left behind" culture that has developed with McCaw at the helm.  The NZRU will ramp it up and Richie is not able to leave the ABs in the lurch.  2016 All Black captain, Richie McCaw 150 test matches.

Had to find a place for this one

Kid Barrett

Beauden Barrett...the best there is

Last year I'd never have dreamed I'd be saying this.  The kid was just too much of a turnstyle in defense to merit an All Black jersey.  How things have changed.  He isn't a brick wall but what 1st5 is?  What he does do now is put his body on the line.  And with his startling turn of pace he can pull down defenders from behind like no other player.  Who can forget the corner tackle on Le Roux?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9EYDtG0sZo

This kid is currently sitting at the pinnacle as the world's top rugby player.  Never mind the battle with that Kiwi battler, the gutsy little Aaron Cruden, Barrett has now surpassed Carter as the most influential number 10 in rugby today.  This kid can find the smallest of gaps and drive a cadillac through them.  He's now making his tackles, kicking goals with apparent ease, and setting his outsides on fire in a way that hasn't been seen since Andrew Mehrtens.  He turns something into nothing every game, creating for himself or his dangerous outside backs.  I wouldn't say he alone is the reason for the Hurricanes' revival (a skilled up Julian Savea, a brutal Broadhurst, and finally being able to follow a gameplan have all played their part) but he has come of age this season and is tipping the scales towards his team in any game he plays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLr6f_Y5wTo

The litmus test was the 2013 Rugby Championship.  The Springboks up and bruising, looking for a 4 try bonus point win to steal the trophy out from NZ's noses.  Beauden Barrett on for Cruden, 1 hour into the game and the Springbok captain runs over the top of Barrett to give the South Africans their 4 try bonus point going up 27-24 and really put the heat on the ABs.  2 minutes later and the wonderkid steps up, giving De Villiers the perfect riposte leaving him grasping at air before dancing his way past 4 more defenders to the tryline to hand New Zealand the trophy, in what should have been the IRB's try of the year in perhaps the greatest game of rugby ever.  As it was he took the prize for his try versus the French. People now sit up and take notice.  You're witnessing something very special.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KfwRQ38dxE

ANZUS Rugby?

The more I think about it the more I agree with the whispers about NZ and Australia going their own way. South Africa threaten it often enough and I get their gripe but it probably is best for all right now for the Republic and Australasia to go their own ways. Australia have been very vocal of an Asian push while NZ seem to have their eyes more on an untapped hugely commercial US market. The Boks will find willing opponents up North though the problem will be the 6 Nations. With the English RU pulling the strings and their history of sticking to tradition (and moreover not wanting to have little chance of winning the "7" Nations) that's going to be a hard nut to crack, though they surely aren't stupid enough to not realise constant game time against a southern tier one team is going to raise their game substantially and turn them into real world heavyweights.

It isn't as absurd as it seems. A lot of the travel would be cut and new markets and new comps would be a huge publicity boost for the sport. The problem is always going to be Argentina. The IRU needs to be pumping $ into Brazil. World rugby is crying out for a change, but the bigwigs are wary of annoying the existing fans. This should keep everyone happy.

Perhaps Australia and the US could even combine once a year in a one off attempt at beating the ABs?

The Walleagles

Hurricanes v Highlanders R14 2014

Malakai Fekitoa

How do you pick between the canes and the highlanders? Highlanders have a lot out through injury and judiciary and are playing in the capital but i think i'll back them. 6 wins from 10 games and 3 of them losses by 2 points or less, they could very easily be sitting top of the table.  I think with Leuia out, much as i respect a departing tim bateman, the Canes will miss what has been a feature of NZ teams of late of having one powerhouse in the centres.  We saw the crusaders stutter early season with no Fruean and Lee-lo out of sorts.  While Fekitoa squares up against conrad smith it won't always be one on one and Smith can be caught out by big, straightening centres.  But will be a good match up there and looking to see broadhurst impress. Playoffs crunchtime.