Hoodoo haunts Canes
At a glance
Colin Cooper was the last Hurricanes coach to win in Hamilton.
That was February 9, 2007, when Ma’a Nonu (playing on the left wing), Tana Umaga and Paul Tito scored tries and Jimmy Gopperth kicked 14 points in a 39-32 win at Waikato Stadium. Current Chiefs squad member Stephen Donald started at firstfive for the hosts.
Since that Friday night, it has been seven losses and a draw for the Hurricanes in Hamilton, with the lone away win over the Chiefs in that time in New Plymouth in 2015.
It will be Cooper who will try to continue that run in his role as Chiefs coach as he tries to revive his side’s fortunes after an 0-4 start.
Some teams don’t bother looking at history when it comes to preparing for matches, but Hurricanes coach John Plumtree said this hoodoo was too big to ignore.
‘‘We haven’t won up there for a long time. This team knows that. We’ve got a lot of things wrong when we’ve visited Hamilton in the past, so hopefully this weekend we can get a lot of things right.’’
Plumtree did not know why the Hurricanes haven’t played well in Hamilton in the past, saying ‘‘it’s been a funny ground for us to play at. Some teams have those funny grounds, it’s definitely a funny ground’’.
Tonight’s match at Waikato Stadium will be a special occasion for good friends Cooper and Plumtree as they come up against each other for the first time as head coaches since 2010 – Cooper’s last year as Hurricanes coach and Plumtree’s third in South Africa with the Sharks.
The pair have known each other since their playing days at Taranaki and worked closely together as coaches when Plumtree was in charge of Wellington and Cooper at the Hurricanes between 2003 and 2006.
That relationship meant Plumtree was feeling for Cooper after his team’s rough start to the season.
‘‘I think all coaches do [feel for each other] because we know we’re all vulnerable to that – it’s part of the job. ‘‘It only takes a win or two and you’re out of that rut and away you go. Living it can be pretty hard, but he’s . . . been there and done it.’’
Plumtree said any coach going through that needed to stick to their guns.
‘‘The worst thing that can happen is where you stop trusting what you’re doing is the right thing and start panicking and going in other directions.
‘‘I’m sure they’re not doing that there, but that’s the worst thing you can do. Or you stop believing in yourself and go into your shell as a coach.
‘‘Again, for Coops, he’s got too much nous and knowledge to fall into that trap.’’
What:
Super Rugby, round five.
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, tonight 7.35pm.
Mike Fraser (New Zealand).
Chase Tiatia, Jordie Barrett, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Du’plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Vaea Fifita, James Blackwell, Ben May, Dane Coles (c), Toby Smith. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong, Alex Fidow, Liam Mitchell, Heiden Bedwell-curtis, Finlay Christie, Jackson Garden-bachop, Salesi Rayasi.
when:
Referee:
Hurricanes:
Chiefs:
Where,
Damian Mckenzie, Sean Wainui, Tumua Manu, Anton Lienert-brown, Ataata Moeakiola, Marty Mckenzie, Brad Weber, Tyler Ardron, Mitchell Karpik, Mitchell Brown, Michael Allardice, Brodie Retallick (c), Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ryan Coxon, Angus Ta’avao, Taleni Seu, Luke Jacobson, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Alex Nankivell, Etene Nanai-seturo.