Wild Prediction

The Hurricanes are going to win the comp. That wild enough for you?

Fact is, they’re a top-four side and, with a very highly motivated Plumtree in charge, are unlikely to plummet from there.

They’ve been the secondbest team in the New Zealand conference the last two years and look as good as ever on paper.

The Crusaders were too good for them in 2017 and 2018 but, in a World Cup year, it’s not hard to imagine them coming back to the pack just enough for the Hurricanes to sneak past.