CONSISTENCY IS EVERYTHING

THE HIGHLANDERS HAVE MOST OF THEIR 2016 SQUAD BACK AND WHILE THEY HAVE A NEW HEAD COACH IN TONY BROWN, HE HAS BEEN PROMOTED FROM WITHIN. DAVID AGNEW LOOKS AT THE 2015 CHAMPIONS.

With so little change in the playing roster, the curious case of the one year coach Tony Brown provides the biggest question mark heading into 2017. He may be a marginally different voice with a more serious whistle but the same voices will be surrounding Brown.

Significantly, 33 players from last year’s group are returning, a rarity in the New Zealand rugby conveyor-belt environment where the Blues, for example, can count 25 returnees. Familiarity therefore will be plentiful and, as assistant for the last three seasons, Brown won’t be tweaking too much from the Jamie Joseph blueprint.

The pack will once again be relentless in their work ethic, technical ability and the set piece will be their bread and butter. Breaking through will be the enormous challenge for opposing sides and nothing will come easy at the breakdown.

The tradesman-like pack provides the balance for what is arguably the most multi-dimensional backline going. After difficult times in the All Blacks camp, Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga will want to make a statement. The latter hasn’t been given an opportunity to truly build on his breakthrough Johannesburg test while the tainted halfback will be desperate to string together a series of top drawer performances before the Lions arrive in June.

On and off the field, the motivation for the franchise will be easily found. Consistently being able to reach the performance level of the trophy season was the downfall in 2016, however glimpses of that championship form popped up sporadically, especially towards the business end against fellow conference challengers.

Coach Brown knows what makes the side tick but the man himself is on a hiding to nothing if things don’t go as planned. He may end up as a Speights Alehouse pub quiz question. After recent success and a roster to match that of the late 1990s, expectations versus results will be an absorbing side story.

More intriguing still is the presence of change-agent Mark Hammett, a layer back in an assistant role. Is the one year ‘apprenticeship’ to initiate and cushion the man who overhauled the Hurricanes into a culture which, of late, has been lauded?