THE HUNTED HURRICANES

Can you make out that large shadow cast over Super Rugby for 2017? Its

it’s been a good dozen years since we decidedly feline.

Squint your eyes just right and you might even call it a Lion. Of the British and Irish variety.

Yes, the looming tour in June and July of Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions, for their once-every-12-years visit to Godzone, shapes as a mighty influence on the New Zealand Super Rugby challenge this year.

But which way does it go as the Hurricanes defend their inaugural title, and the Highlanders, Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues continue their pursuit?

Massive motivating force or destabilising distraction? That’s the million dollar question

Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Epalahame Faiva, Charlie Faumuina, Blake Gibson, Josh Goodhue, Alex Hodgman, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua, Sione Mafileo, Pauliasi Manu, Matt Moulds, Brandon Nansen, James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Kara Pryor, Scott Scrafton, Murphy Taramai, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou, Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, TJ Faiane, Billy Guyton, Rieko Ioane, Matt Vaega, George Moala, Melani Nanai, Sam Nock, Declan O’Donnell, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu, Rene Ranger, Jordon Trainor, Ihaia West, Sonny Bill Williams, Piers Francis. Thur Feb 23 v Rebels, Melbourne Fri Mar 3 v Chiefs, Hamilton Sat Mar 11 v Highlanders, Auckland Fri Mar 17 v Crusaders, Christchurch Sat Mar 25 v Bulls, Auckland Sat Apr 1 v Force, Auckland Sat Apr 8 v Highlanders, Dunedin Sat Apr 15 v Hurricanes, Auckland Bye Sun Apr 30 v Brumbies, Canberra Sat May 6 v Waratahs, Sydney Fri May 12 v Cheetahs, Auckland Fri May 19 v Stormers, Cape Town Fri May 26 v Chiefs, Auckland Fri Jun 2 v Reds, Apia Bye Sat Jul 15 v Sunwolves, Tokyo Recruited well, but don’t appear to have the solidarity needed to consistently drive the ship from first-five. Three local derbies in the first four weeks without Sonny Bill Williams could prove telling. There will be jawdropping moments of attacking brilliance but in a typically tough Kiwi conference missing the playoffs again, with a similar tale to last year, seems the likely outcome.

This bloke is incredibly under-rated. We didn’t see much of him last year due to sevens commitments and injury, but expect him to be a major force this year. Lethal running game, whether in support or from the base, and punishing defender, Pulu could be the spark the Blues need. in a competition last year dominated by New Zealand teams to an unprecedented degree (four of the five best records came from the Land of the Long White Cloud, with the five Kiwi franchises winning 82 percent of their games against off-shore opposition).

The Kiwi optimists’ view is that nothing changes. That the Lions tour, and once-ina-career opportunity it affords our premier players, will have them fit, focused and firmly on top of their games as they look to secure their spots in the national pecking order.

And that, by extension, the Kiwi Super Rugby teams will continue to set the standard because their top ball-winners, tackle-busters and game-changers will all be performing at a high level.

The pessimists’ outlook is that leading All Blacks will pace themselves to peak for the three tests against the Lions, and that deep down they’ll regard Super Rugby as an

Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Mitchell Graham (replaced by Aidan Ross), Kane Hames, Sefo Kautai, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli, Hika Elliot, Nathan Harris, Liam Polwart, Michael Allardice, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, James Tucker, Mitchell Brown, Lachlan Boshier, Sam Cane, Mitchell Karpik, Michael Leitch, Liam Messam, Tom Sanders, Taleni Seu.

Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Finlay Christie, Brad Weber (replaced by Jonathan Taumateine), Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald, Damian McKenzie, Johnny Fa’auli, Anton Lienert-Brown, Tim Nanai-Williams, Charlie Ngatai (Alex Nankivell in as cover), Solomon Alaimalo, Glen Fisiiahi, James Lowe, Sam McNicol, Toni Pulu, Shaun Stevenson, Chase Tiatia. Fri Feb 24, v Highlanders, Dunedin Fri Mar 3, v Blues, Hamilton Fri Mar 10, v Hurricanes, Hamilton Fri Mar 17, v Rebels, Melbourne Bye Sat Apr 1, v Bulls, Hamilton Sun Apr 9, v Stormers, Cape Town Sun Apr 16, v Cheetahs, Bloemfontein Sat Apr 22, v Force, Perth Sat Apr 29, v Sunwolves, Hamilton Sat May 6, v Reds, New Plymouth Bye Fri May 19, v Crusaders, Suva Fri May 26, v Blues, Auckland Sat Jun 3, v Waratahs, Hamilton Fri Jun 9, v Hurricanes, Wellington Sat Jul 15, v Brumbies, Hamilton Decent. Having made the playoffs each of the last three years since claiming back-to-back titles, the Chiefs are always thereabouts come the business end. A couple of season-ending injuries have already knocked them back a bit, though Dave Rennie has always been able to make the best of the next tier of players, and there are still All Blacks scattered throughout. It’s a tough start to the campaign with three Kiwi derbies, and a three-week South Africa-Perth journey comes soon after, so they’ll be wanting to ensure they’re not playing too much catchup att the back end.

Having returnedned to the fray late last season after m missing g out on the New Zealand sevens team f for the Olympics, the 32-year-old then playe played out his second season in Japan, and is now back on a two-year deal with his beloveded Chiefs. Set to be the first-choice b blindside,de, Messam - the franchise’s most most-cappeded player - certainly showed at the Brisbane Global Tens he’s s still got athleticism aplenty, while hi his physicality sicality and penalty count w will be interesting to track to se see whetherther he still has the abil ability to add to his 43 All Blacks c caps. unwelcome distraction. Standards will drop.

Even worse, that the 10-game Lions tour, featuring all five franchises, will leave Kiwi teams bruised, battered, mentally shot and generally ill-equipped to deal with the resumption of Super Rugby just seven days after the final test.

Fear not. If history is any guide, the Kiwi challenge should not be overtly curtailed. For three of the previous four Lions tours, the Super Rugby champion has come from the

Callum Gibbins, Toa Halafihi, Reed Prinsep, Hugh Renton, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Blade Thomson, Vaea Fifita, Mark Abbott, James Blackwell, Michael Fatialofa, Sam Lousi, James Broadhurst, Leni Apisai, Dane Coles, Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves, Reggie Goodes, Mike Kainga, Ben May, Jeff To’omagaAllen, Loni Uhila.

Cory Jane, Ben Lam, Nehe MilnerSkudder, Julian Savea, Peter UmagaJensen, Pita Ahki, Jordie Barrett, Vince Aso, Wes Goosen, Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, Beauden Barrett, Otere Black, Kylem O’Donnell, TJ Perenara, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi Sat Feb 25 v Sunwolves, Tokyo Sat Mar 4 v Rebels, Wellington Fri Mar 10 v Chiefs, Hamilton Sat Mar 18 v Highlanders, Wellington Bye Sat Apr 1 v Reds, Brisbane Fri Apr 7 v Waratahs, Wellington Sat Apr 15 v Blues, Auckland Fri Apr 21 v Brumbies, Napier Bye Fri May 5 v Stormers, Wellington Sat May 13 v Crusaders, Christchurch Sat May 20 v Cheetahs, Wellington Sun May 28 v Bulls, Pretoria Sat Jun 3 v Force, Perth Fri Jun 9 v Chiefs, Wellington Sat Jul 15 v Crusaders, Wellington On ability and pedigree, the Hurricanes have the right group to retain the Super Rugby title. It just depends how satisfied they are with winning it last year and what toll the Lions’ tour takes. The Hurricanes are a genuine team, boasting plenty of players capable of coming into the side and doing a job. But if stars such as Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara are distracted by the looming Lions tests, or get busted during the tests themselves, then the Super trophy will be heading elsewhere.

Lock He was the find of the Hurricanes Hurricanes’ 2016 season and his combination with Vaea Fifita should prove a real asset, once the latter is over his ankle injury. Workrate, accuracy and intelligence are basis of Fatialofa’s game and it will be fascinating to watch what progress he and Fifita can make this year. Zealand conference is again going to be a brute, with the champion likely to come from within.

Last year the Canes nosed out the Highlanders, Chiefs and Crusaders in a blanket finish, with all four on the same record (11-4), with just three points separating them.

This year Chris Boyd’s team will again take the cue of their All Black stars, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara and Dane Coles. Throw a refocused Julian Savea and a fit-again Nehe Milner-Skudder into that mix and they have the top-end quality to defend.

But it won’t be easy. The Highlanders have all their big guns back, Tevita Li to add some back-threeack three depth and a new coach (Tony Brown) n) who carries a reputation as an innovator. They’ll be tough.

So too willll the Crusaders, under rookie head coach Scott Robertson, who have just enough freshness to energise their experienced core, and the Chiefs efs as master coach Dave Rennie

Michael Alaalatoa, Wyatt Crockett, Oliver Jager, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Andrew Makalio, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Quinten Strange, Sam Whitelock, Heiden BedwellCurtis, Jed Brown, Mitchell Dunshea, Kieran Read, Pete Samu, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd.

Mitchell Drummond, Leon Fukofuka, Bryn Hall, Tim Bateman, Marty McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Sean Wainui, George Bridge, Israel Dagg, Sione Fifita, Mitchell Hunt, Digby Ioane, Jone Macilai, Manasa Mataele. Sat Feb 25, v Brumbies, Christchurch Sat Mar 4, v Highlanders, Dunedin Sat Mar 11, v Reds, Brisbane Fri Mar 17, v Blues, Christchurch Fri Mar 24, v Force, Christchurch Sun Apr 2, v Waratahs, Sydney Bye Fri Apr 14, v Sunwolves, Christchurch Sat Apr 22, v Stormers, Christchurch Sun Apr 30, v Cheetahs, Bloemfontein Sun May 7, v Bulls, Pretoria Sat May 13, v Hurricanes, Christchurch Fri May 19, v Chiefs, Suva Sat May 27, v Rebels, Melbourne Sat June 3, v Highlanders, Christchurch Bye Sat July 15, v Hurricanes, Wellington Good chance of making the top eight, fair chance of qualifying for the semifinals. Much will depend on their attrition rate. If a player like, say, captain Sam Whitelock clocks up big minutes in Super Rugby, also plays for the Crusaders against the British and Irish Lions and all three tests against the Lions he will be leg-heavy if they qualify for the playoffs. Given 12 members of the squad travelled on the All Blacks’ northern tour, it seems safe to assume a number of them will be involved in the test series. Some tired men will report back for duty at the Crusaders in mid-July.

Does the ex-Wallabies wing, who hasn hasn’tt played SuperSu Rugby since he left the Reds in 2013 and has spentp the last two seasons in Japan, still possess the pace too to burn oppponents opponents at this leveel? level? We are ggoing going to find out.. out. A fit Ioanee Ioane could add some preccious precious finishing skkills skills for a sside side that has losst lost Nemanii Nemani Nadolo andd and Johnny McNicholl to overseas clubs.cclubs. Not much is likely to bee be seen of Jone Maacilai Macilai because he hee is recoveringg recovering from a serious kneee knee injury.

Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Guy Millar, Siate Tokolahi, Aki Seiuli, Craig Millar, Tom Franklin, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Josh Dickson, Jackson Hemopo, Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Dan Pryor, Shane Christie, Elliot Dixon.

Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Josh Renton, Lima Sopoaga, Hayden Parker (replaced by Marty Banks), Fletcher Smith, Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Patrick Osborne, Tevita Li, Jason Emery, Ben Smith. Fri Feb 24, v Chiefs, Dunedin Sat Mar 4, v Crusaders, Dunedin Sat Mar 11, v Blues, Auckland Sat Mar 18, v Hurricanes, Wellington Sat Mar 25, v Brumbies, Canberra Fri Mar 31, v Rebels, Dunedin Sat Apr 8, v Blues, Dunedin Bye Sat Apr 22, v Sunwolves, Invercargill Fri Apr 28, v Stormers, Dunedin Sat May 6, v Cheetahs, Bloemfontein Sun May 14, v Bulls, Pretoria Sat May 20, v Force, Perth Sat May 27, v Waratahs, Dunedin Sat Jun 3, v Crusaders, Christchurch Bye Fri Jul 14, v Reds, Dunedin Long gone are the days of overlooking the Highlanders. Led by co-captain Ben Smith, the 2015 champions have all the ingredients to at least be in with a shot at another title come the business end of the season. With five All Blacks in the backline, and the addition of former Blues winger Tevita Li, they won’t have any trouble putting up points. Their pack isn’t littered with the same big names, although that was also the case two years ago and it didn’t stop them punching above their weight. If they can get through the opening month - their first four games are against New Zealand teams - they will be well on their way. Highlanders fans can only hope centre

returns to his old ways this season. After the Blues reject lit up Super Rugby for the Dunedin-based franchise in 2014-15, Fekitoa was a shade of his former self last year. He fumbled and bumbled his way through the season, lacking the punch and ability to break the line that earned him All Black selection three years ago. On the back of a down season and the emergence of midfielder

the 24-year-old appeared to be on the outer for the men in black during last year’s end-of-year tour. Whether Fekitoa can conjure up the goods everyone knows he is capable of could decide whether he sticks around in NZ beyond 2017. looks to conjure one final flourish from his bag of tricks before departing off-shore.

Then there are the Blues. The great under-achievers. Add Sonny Bill Williams and Augustine Pulu to their talent stockpile and Tana Umaga might just have himself a contender. At last.

Also we have the men on a mission, with Super Rugby their proving ground. Think a refreshed Aaron Smith battling TJ Perenara for the top halfback’s job, Israel Dagg, MilnerSkudder and Waisake Naholo chasing one back-three spot and Sam Cane and Ardie Savea duelling for No 7.

Then throw in the midfield contest (Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, SBW, George Moala, Rieko Ioane, Malakai Fekitoa et al) and mighty tussles among the backup men in the loose forwards, at hooker, lock and No 10 and you have plenty to salivate over.

What Lions shadow?

Forwards: Backs: Fixtures: Prospects: Player to watch: Augustine Pulu. - Liam Napier Forwards: Backs: Fixtures: Prospects: Player to watch: Liam Messam. - Aaron Go Goile Forwards: Backs: Fixtures: Prospects: Player to watch: Michael Fatialofa. - Hamish Bidwell Forwards: Backs: Fixtures: Prospects: Player to watch: Digby Ioane. - Richard KnowlerK Knowler Forwards: Backs: Fixtures: Prospects: Player to watch: Malakai Fekitoa Brown, Anton Lienert- - Robert van Royen