With the new Super Rugby season looming large on the horizon we take a look at each of the fifteen competitors. Next up, the Hurricanes!
After upsetting all the pre-season predictions last year, the Hurricanes will be looking to take another step forward and claim a place in the play-offs in 2013.
Last Year: Most predicted doom and gloom. The departure of a large chunck of the team's senior players left the 'Canes looking short on experience and firepower... but how Mark Hammett and his boys proved us wrong! The Hurricanes finished eighth overall and third in the New Zealand conference - one place better than the year before on both counts - but even more surprisingly was they were the tournament's top try-scorers by a mile, touching down 58 times! (The Bulls were next best with 50 while the eventually winners the Chiefs, who played two more games, only bagged 47).
Conrad Smith and Julian Savea were absolutely brilliant, producing more blinders than we have space to mention. Tim Bateman admirably filled the gap left by Ma'a Nonu's move north and Andre Taylor was a try magnet, finishing as the joint top try-scorer with 10, just one more than Savea. Beauden Barrett was also a revelation at fly-half. Victory in the last round against the champions-to-be showed just how good the 'Canes were. In retrospect, defeats at home to the Cheetahs and Brumbies ultimately cost them a place in the play-offs.
This year: Fans in Wellington will be hoping for more of the same...with a few extra points to make the play-off cut. It looks an achievable goal since the majority of the squad remains intact. All Blacks prop Ben Franks is a massive addition to the team in every sense of the word but the loss of Cory Jane to a season-ending knee injury is equally significant. The key to this competition has become winning your nation derbies and the 'Canes finish with clashes away to the Chiefs and Crusaders the final three weeks, with the Highlanders coming to the Cake Tin in between. Those three weeks will be decisive.
Players to watch: Lock/loose forward Blade Thomson, who was part of New Zealand's 2010 IRB Junior World Championship-winning team and versatile James Marshall, who was Taranaki "Back of the Year" for 2012, are quality newcomers to the squad, adding the 'depth' that everyone loves talking about. Samoan-born loose forward Ardie Savea is the younger brother of All Black winger Julian. If his arrival on the scene is anything like his brother's, 'Canes fans are in for a treat. Of course, the key man is skipper Conrad Smith, who was easily the world's best 13 in 2012.
Noteworthy signings: Ben Franks (Crusaders), Serge Lilo (Wellington), James Marshall (Taranaki). Ardie Savea (Wellington), Eric Sione (Wellington), Blade Thomson (Taranaki)
Noteworthy losses: Michael Bent (Leinster), Chris Eaton, Jayden Hayward (Force), Daniel Kirkpatrick (Castres), Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs)
Prospects: The draw isn't too bad since the tour of South Africa only involves two games and winning in Bloemfontein is more than possible. The opening four weeks are tough however as they include a trip to Brisbane and a clash with the Crusaders. If they can get over those initial hurdles, and still have gas left for a push in the late-season derbies mentioned above, then a place in the play-offs is on the cards.
Fixtures:
Sat 23 Feb: v Blues - Home
Fri 1 Mar: v Reds - Away
Fri 8 Mar: v Crusaders - Home
Fri 15 Mar: v Highlanders - Away
Bye
Sat 30 Mar: v Kings - Home
Sat 6 Apr: v Waratahs - Home
Sat 13 Apr: v Blues - Away
Fri 19 Apr: v Western Force - Home
Fri 26 Apr: v Stormers - Home (Palmerston North)
Sun 5 May: v Bulls - Away
Sat 11 May: v Cheetahs - Away
Fri 17 May: v Chiefs - Home
Bye
Fri 31 May: v Brumbies - Away
Fri 28 Jun: v Chiefs- Away
Sat 6 Jul: v Highlanders - Home
Fri 12 Jul: v Crusaders- Away
Comments
kiwilad says...
Trinats, yes they should do better than eighth, infact I think thy would winn the Aussie conference, but so would most Kiwi or Saffa teams.
Posted 22:53 16th February 2013
hybrid187 says...
Wrong ferdie... Reds finished =7th. No Aus team rightfully placed above 6th ! Yet Reds still got the home pity playoff at Suncorp. Was over the moon when they lost that one to the Sharks last year... didn't deserve to be playing that game in the first place.
Posted 09:54 12th February 2013
startledwombat says...
Saw the Melbourne Rabbles play the Hurricanes in a pre-tournament giggle affair here at Geelong last Saturday night.
The Rebels were up 19-nil at one stage, due to flat defences creating pressure leading to several intercept tries. The match turned when when one of the Rebels Wallaby backline players did a pointless chip kick on the ten-metre mark (guess who...) and the Hurricanes got on the board from the resulting gather.
The Hurricanes played smart rugby, changing their attacking and defensive structures and showing a compelling ability to keep the ball alive down the touchlines. This led to several tries and their narrow win. Something like 47 points to 45.
Rebels showed strength and confidence punching for the tryline from rucks and set pieces.
Posted 09:08 12th February 2013
cuw3100 says...
Who propped the S15 table last season ?
10 Cheetahs
11 Waratahs
12 Blues
13 Rebels
14 Force
15 Lions
So maybe T2 has a point: having to play the lowly OZ teams at home is an easy draw :)
Posted 06:39 12th February 2013
ferdie says...
Of course Ardie is a New Zealander; born Wellington, same school Rongotai College (he was Head Boy and 1st XV player) as brother Julian and Ma'a Nonu, same club as them too (Oriental-Rongotai).
Regardless, PR, you are 1 wrong, and 2 why single out one player (incorrectly) as having been born overseas, hardly any issue at Super rugby is it.
I hope Shota Hori gets mentioned this season without a constant tag of 'Japanese player' too.
And that well-known 'Australian' Ben Franks - unless injured he'll play his 100th Super match this season.
Also hitting 100 will Piri Weepu (Blues), Kieran Read and Andy Ellis (Crusaders), Hosea Gear (Highlanders), Liam Messam (Chiefs) and Chris King (Highlanders).
Posted 01:39 12th February 2013
sukkadoits says...
@ Trinats, the easier draws include 2 games against the Force and 2 games against the Kings
Posted 00:25 12th February 2013
ferdie says...
Trinats2 - I disagree. Wouldn't the easiest draw be for a team that only gets into the final four by virtue of charity (pity?) . . . the Reds finished just 6= on points in 2012, despite an easy draw incl the usual Oz easybeats
Posted 00:10 12th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
By far the easiest draw thus far, they should do better than 8th.
Aussie born Ben Franks will add bulk to their weak pack.
Posted 20:06 11th February 2013
Isograford says...
Ardie Savea is a born and bred Wellingtonian, just like his brother.
I'm still not sure how Ben Franks is an All Black, the guy is seriously average. But TJ Perenara is one in waiting, and hopefully Brad Shields gets some serious game time too because that guy will own the All Black 6 jersey in years to come.
Posted 18:34 11th February 2013