‘We can sulk, or get on with it’
Rewind to the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa, week seven, barely nine months ago.
Photos of a bloodied, beaming Jordie Barrett and Hurricanes team-mates clad in their grey away strip adorned reports of their fourth straight win, against the Crusaders at their Christchurch fortress.
That, and the previous week’s victory over the Blues, were iced by Barrett’s radarlike boot and first-year head coach Jason Holland’s Canes were flying.
Yesterday, as the Hurricanes anxiously awaited injury news on skipper Ardie Savea, they sat 1-5 after week seven, heading into the bye facing a fight to avoid the wooden spoon.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson offered some perspective for frustrated Hurricanes fans who watched their side lift considerably, and do enough to topple the perennial frontrunners, but lose 30-27 to a David Havili drop goal in extra time at Sky Stadium on Sunday.
‘‘It’s a game of small margins. Clearly his [Holland’s] team plays for him, through their effort. They just didn’t quite get a couple of bounces of the ball, or calls,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘If Jordie makes that kick it’s a different game. Fine margins. He’s a really good coach and a good mate. He’ll be better for this experience, second year as head coach, he’ll just be getting better.’’
That kick was a 62m monster with seven minutes left, and proved even Barrett’s magic isn’t guaranteed.
He hooked this one left; Richie Mo’unga missed a drop goal attempt with 90sec left and it went to golden point, where late callup Cam Roigard’s box kick was charged by Mitchell Dunshea and Havili did the rest.
Holland defended Roigard, who came in when reserve Jonathan Taumateine rolled an ankle at Friday training. Several other exit plays earlier were just as costly, Holland said, as he was asked about the situation his side is now in.
‘‘That’s the game isn’t it? S..t, if winning was that easy we’d all be having a crack at it. We’ve lost a good run now, but we can sit back and worry about that or sulk, or just get on with next week. You’ve got no real choice,’’ Holland said.
‘‘We’ve got a good group of boys who, as you saw, put in the effort in the jersey [on Sunday]. We’ve just got to stick to our processes and work hard, and those little moments will turn around. Head up and get on with it.’’
Holland could have also bemoaned the Mo’unga pass that looked forward out of the hands to 64th minute tryscorer Sevu Reece, as the Crusaders pivot tried to avoid Wes Goosen’s outstretched arm.
Referee Paul Williams and television match official Glenn Newman were satisfied it wasn’t, continuing a trend of benefit of the doubt decisions since the Ioane brothers’ call on Eden Park was pilloried.
Teams can also make their own luck. Much like Robertson’s Crusaders who were below par, made some uncharacteristic errors and were under pressure at scrum time, but got the job done.
The Hurricanes looked to have turned the corner with a high-octane, muscular effort to beat the Highlanders 30-19 in Dunedin. Solid defence, clever in-passes and a Barrett masterclass sealed it.
Then they were flat against the Blues, rarely looking a winning chance despite a 10-point margin.
The paradoxes continue. On Sunday the young forward pack – the likes of Xavier Numia, Isaia Walker-leawere and Devan Flanders – were excellent as the immense Savea and Dane Coles led the way at the breakdown, but the lineout was a mess. The scrum creaked in previous weeks but was solid on Sunday.
Discipline was again a worry, and Ngani Laumape lost his cool with a needless forearm on Scott Barrett to earn the Hurricanes’ seventh yellow card in six matches. Otherwise Laumape was superb, rousing his team-mates and launching himself at the red wall with Peter UmagaJensen also excellent in an overdue start.
Young first-five Ruben Love – another overdue selection – was solid and showed his mercurial qualities with his first touch, bursting clear. No 10 was a headache from the moment Simon Hickey suffered a season-ending knee injury in February, and Jackson Garden Bachop went the same way in round two. It left Barrett seemingly trying to do it all himself from fullback.
TJ Perenara’s absence still hurts them, too, for leadership and the ability to, shall we say, keep the referees on task. He would have ensured the Hurricanes closed it out; instead their fifth-choice halfback Roigard was awry with his timing and the Crusaders pounced.
Now there’s a week off, and they’ll plan for a Chiefs-highlanders finish then the trans-tasman competition knowing they’re not far off clicking.