Beaten and battered Canes eye up an unlikely title tilt
It’s a sobering statistic for Hurricanes fans: not since 2004 has their team finished last of the five New Zealand Super Rugby sides.
Coach Jason Holland’s demeanour barely wavered, though, amid a torrid 2-6 run through the Aotearoa competition which saw them finish two points below the 3-5 Highlanders.
So much so that Holland not only offers solace for the frustrated Canes faithful, but genuine confidence they can give the new trans-Tasman competition a decent shake.
‘‘We’re really excited about this comp because we feel like we’ve played some really good footy and we’re learning every day about how to win the big games. We’re pretty motivated to have a good crack at holding up the trophy. There’s no doubt we can win it,’’ Holland said as his team reassembled to prepare for the struggling Waratahs in Sydney on Friday.
A rollicking 41-22 victory over the Highlanders in the final round – their first win at home this year – was a confidence booster with the wooden spoon already sealed. That followed harsh lessons aplenty: two heartbreakers against the Chiefs and the mercurial Damian McKenzie, and a golden point 30-27 defeat to the Crusaders via a David Havili drop goal.
Failing to close out victory against the Chiefs on March 20 was their nadir. Up 26-7 with 25 minutes left, against a side on an 11-match losing streak, the Canes imploded with McKenzie hitting the detonate button. The Chiefs won 35-29 to begin their charge towards the final.
Somehow the Canes lifted to beat the Highlanders in Dunedin the following week, then barely fired a shot and were outmuscled by the Blues before getting within a whisker of beating the Crusaders.
Discipline (they had eight yellow cards, at least double each of the other sides), handling errors, unexplained flat periods and – notably against the Crusaders – a misfiring lineout were all costly.
After it fell into place too late against the Highlanders in week 10, Holland insisted he’d never doubted his side.
‘‘It was more we needed to be a little bit more clinical in moments and we’ll win games. It was never ‘are we good enough?’, it was more, ‘we’ve got to keep our heads down and go’.
‘‘It [the Highlanders victory] wasn’t a big relief or anything because I knew it was coming, I knew we were going to win games. Now it’s a case of making sure we learn from [situations] where we’re as good as the other team on the night but don’t win, why is that? We’ve got to be able to figure out those little moments which are the difference between winning and losing.’’
Third in SRA last year, the Hurricanes were either first or second in the New Zealand conference from 2015-2019 – including their only title, under Chris Boyd in 2016.
Last year, Holland’s first at the helm, those ‘‘little moments’’ went his side’s way in a five-match winning streak; notably Jordie Barrett’s goalkicking which clinched victories over the Crusaders and Blues.
Halfback and co-captain TJ Perenara was a big part of the class of 2020 and his absence in Japan was huge. The Hurricanes await his decision on whether he rejoins them next year, as he also weighs up a league shift to the Sydney Roosters.
Halfbacks Luke Campbell and Jonathan Taumateine, the latter now recovered from an ankle injury, proved solid without bossing the game like Perenara.
And that brings us to first fiveeighth, the main problem area after season-ending injuries to Simon Hickey and Jackson Garden-Bachop.
Holland elevated utility backs Orbyn Leger and Ruben Love to No 10, with the latter showing his matchwinning qualities but ending the SRA season with a mixed performance in Wellington.
Love has the inside running to start at 10 against the Waratahs, and looks the better option, but Holland expected Leger would get time there too in the next five weeks.
The lack of a gun playmaker was a factor, but Holland insisted not as much as it appeared.
‘‘We played some awesome footy for parts of the game, scored some good tries, had really good passages of defence when you look at the two Chiefs games and the Crusaders game.
‘‘But then a couple of little moments when we could have been more clinical and managed the game better.’’’’
Barrett was everywhere at fullback, almost trying too much at times, and remains their key man. Captain Ardie Savea is expected back from a knee injury for the Brumbies in round four, possibly sooner, and was a colossus against the Crusaders when injured.
Dane Coles, taking over the captaincy from Savea, was an imposing presence but almost overdid the niggle against the Highlanders.
Ngani Laumape and Du’Plessis Kirifi were big performers against the Highlanders and need to maintain that level. Devan Flanders filled the No 8 jersey effectively while prop Xavier Numia and lock Isaia WalkerLeawere showed glimpses in a young pack.
Out wide, Salesi Rayasi could carve up an Australian side, and the Hurricanes can utilise him better. Peter Umaga-Jensen looked sharper after a slow start while Julian Savea was busy but had too few chances.
A change of scene and a trip away might just be enough to jolt the Canes back into that winning habit, after a rare thump to the foot of the ladder. Their coach certainly hasn’t averted his gaze from an unlikely title, with the top New Zealand and Australia sides set to meet on June 19.