Hey presto, Hansen’s wish is duly granted
OPINION: Brad Shields at No 8? You assume that’s a suggestion which came from on high.
No sooner had All Blacks coach Steve Hansen mentioned the Hurricanes’ blindside flanker as a candidate to play at the back of the scrum and - bang look where Shields was named to play a few days later.
Number 8 - where ball-carrying and picking up from the back of scrums are among the basics - hasn’t tended to be Shields’ best spot. His hands haven’t always been the best, but few are better at the less glamorous duties of the blindside. It will be interesting to see how he goes against the Crusaders on Saturday.
On a broader note, Hansen would like us all to relax, enjoy what Super Rugby has to offer and feel safe in the knowledge that he’ll put a good All Blacks team out to play the British and Irish Lions. Sonny Bill Williams became the ninth front-line All Black to be sidelined by injury, last week, with captain and No 8 Kieran Read among them.
Hansen’s track record is stupendous. If he’s confident the bulk of those blokes will be fit for the first test against the Lions on June 24, then you assume they wil be.
But from this distance the injury toll appears to have progressed from beyond just a nuisance, to being an actual problem.
Big clash on wing
This time last year, Julian Savea was the recipient of plenty of column inches.
The Hurricanes wing’s physical condition and form were not particularly impressive and he eventually couldn’t crack their starting lineup. In 2017 Savea looks a far fitter, happier man, even if his performances still aren’t all that eye-catching.
Any number of Hurricanes backs could be said to be enjoying standout seasons but Savea - often cited as one of rugby’s most exciting players - has been quiet.
On Saturday he’ll be marking a bloke whose footy has been speaking for itself. Seta Tamanivalu made his name as a centre at the Chiefs, but the All Blacks wanted to see him on the right wing for the Crusaders this year and you can see why.
Tamanivalu has been something of a revelation and you suspect Savea has noticed. Perhaps that will bring the best out in him this weekend.
A few in
Having moaned about Super Rugby and described it as a flawed competition and wondered why some people watch it, I must commend the 16,488 who attended last Friday’s Hurricanes v Stormers clash at Westpac Stadium.
It’s not the most inviting venue and the Stormers aren’t a huge drawcard, but the Hurricanes did a good job to market the game as ‘‘club night’’ and were reasonably well rewarded.
The crowd was the Hurricanes’ largest for a non-New Zealand opponent since 17,000 watched them host the Reds in 2010. It was also the biggest crowd for a game against South African opposition since the 20,000 attended the 2009 game against the Stormers.
On the punt
The Highlanders, Crusaders and Blues all got up last week, which shows what I know about tipping rugby results.
Nevetheless, here’s a couple of games where there’s a (very little) bit of money to be made. The Brumbies are paying $2.60 to beat the Lions at home, as are the Rebels against the Reds at AAMI Park.
Good luck.