‘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 radar-like 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.’’

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 Umaga-Jensen also excellent in an overdue start.

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 ChiefsHighlanders finish then the transTasman competition knowing they’re not far off clicking.