2011 Investec Super Rugby preview - The Hurricanes

As always the Hurricanes have a marvellous roster, buttressed by 13 All Blacks, the bulk of which are considered test incumbents.

Indeed the six-time semi finalists – five of those appearances coming since 2003 – will boast a 947 Super Rugby capped group, a core of experience which will be vital to break what has become a fair drought for the prolific rugby producing region.

Either in the guise of the Hurricanes or Wellington, semi finals and numerous finals (in the ITM Cup) have been achieved by the region, but there has been no Super Rugby title.

Are they the strongest team not to have claimed the crown?

To put it broadly, one feels that if the Hurricanes had some small defining factor to add to their already potent arsenal, they could go on to claim success.

Surely inspiration could be drawn from the competition’s most successful team in the Crusaders, a side that has eliminated the Canes four times they have crossed swords in the top four finals (once in the 2006 final).

That je ne sais quoi for the Hurricanes could be the addition of new head coach Mark Hammett, a Crusaders title winner and key member of their backroom team.

The former All Blacks forward will replace Colin Cooper, who departs as the second most capped Super Rugby coach of all time.

While the new Taranaki coach was well regarded, surely it will smart that he could not take the title with such talent at his disposal, and one cannot forget that he too came from Crusaders territory.

Yet former test rake Hammett (with 29 All Blacks tests, 81 Crusaders and 76 Canterbury caps) has been forward's advisor and assistant to both Robbie Deans and Todd Blackadder since 2006.

The Hurricanes, well regarded as a potent attacking unit, will likely have a fair amount of starch and patterns integrated into them by the man fondly regarded as the Hammer.

This will suit the perennial contenders well.

They have long had the arsenal to match it with the big teams, and indeed when firing no side in the competition has been able to compete.

Yet ‘when firing’ is a statement that does not fit well with a side that hopes to be champions, and there is no doubt that the Hurricanes prominent weakness is occasional inconsistency.

However it will not only be Hammett who could change this, but the increasing seniority of their squad members, combined with the desperation of some of their All Blacks.

Piri Weepu will be out – even with a best case scenario – till March, which does rob the Hurricanes of a key player before their campaign even begins.

Karl Lowe will also miss the majority of the season.

Yet the rise and growing leadership of Conrad Smith will mean that the Hurricanes will have a world class player and general to kick off the season, and much will rest on the talented centre’s shoulders.

Also notable will be the attacking class of Hosea Gear, who has had his potential (long known to Wellington fans) realised with a stunning performance on the All Blacks Telecom Backing Black end of year tour.

However a host of All Blacks will be frantic to remind selectors of their class.

Two players will still be heavily on Graham Henry’s mind, yet their status as automatic selections did dim slightly towards the end of 2010.

Ma’a Nonu, whose incumbency as the All Blacks second five-eighth has been usurped by the emergence of the 109kg (based on recent boxing training reports) Sonny Bill Williams, will want to impress why he can be at his finest the best number 12 in the game.

While Cory Jane, one of the most consistent and reliable All Blacks wings in recent memory, will want to stamp his mark on the game, ironically with a chief rival (in Gear) playing with him in the back three.

But numerous players, from great warhorse Rodney So’oialo, to last year’s fringe All Blacks Aaron Cruden and Victor Vito, to forgotten prop Neemia Tialata and lock Jason Eaton, and returning hooker Andrew Hore – will all want strong campaigns to impress for a potential World Cup berth.

That desperate edge that so many key players will bring to the Hurricanes 2011 campaign could be the defining factor that could enable the star studded franchise to go all the way.

They will need to arrest the aforementioned consistency.

Last season three wins to open their campaign led to a horror middle patch, kicking off with a shock loss to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. That 28-12 defeat led to four losses in a row, and with a draw to the Crusaders and a bye meant they went from round four to round nine without a victory.

They kick off the 2011 Super Rugby season with a good draw, hosting the Highlanders and Crusaders before taking their first bye in round three. They will not play a match on the road (against the Blues) until round five, and will play the Rebels in Melbourne as their first ‘cross-conference’ opponent.

It is arguably the best beginning to the tournament of any team, and one that the Hurricanes will need to capitalise on if they are to break their title drought.

Roll of honour: Finalists 2006, semi-finalists 1997, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009
Last season: 8th (7 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses)
In 2010: 7th equal best attack, 7th best defence

Notable results
Home team first

Hurricanes 47 – 22 Western Force (round two)
Brumbies 13 – 23 Hurricanes (round ten)
Hurricanes 44 – 21 Reds (round 13)

HURRICANES 2011 SUPER RUGBY ROSTER

Fullbacks: Cory Jane
Wingers: Hosea Gear, Alipati Leiua, Julian Savea, Andre Taylor
Midfield: Charlie Ngatai, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith
First five-eigths: Aaron Cruden, Daniel Kirkpatrick
Halfbacks: Chris Eaton, Tyson Keats, Piri Weepu
Loose forwards: Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, Serge Lilo, Karl Lowe, Rodney So'oialo, Victor Vito
Locks: James Broadhurst, Jason Eaton, Bryn Evans, Mark Reddish, Jeremy Thrush
Props: Michael Bent, Jacob Ellison, Anthony Perenise, John Schwalger, Neemia Tialata
Hookers: Dane Coles, Laurence Corlett, Andrew Hore

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Referee's attacker stumps up

In 2008 Phillip Bosch of the Eastern Province Referees' Society, an experienced provincial referee, refereed a schools match between two of the top rugby schools in the Eastern Province- Daniël Pienaar and Grey. Attacked by a spectator Bosch stopped the match early.

The match was played at Daniël Pienaar. Grey were leading 20-9 when, near the end, there was a hold up for injury. While this was happening, a spectator, Zayne Myburgh, ran onto the field, shouted "Piet van Zyl" and tackled Bosch from behind, injuring the off-guar referee.

At time it was thought that Myburgh's action was the result of a drunken dare.

Bosch  suffered an injury to his lower back and was unable to referee for some time, missing two provincial matches. In fact in his next provincial match, a Currie Cup match between the Leopards and the Pumas, Bosch pulled up with a hamstring and a calf injury, both apparently related to the damage to his lower back.

The matter was finally settled in the Port Elizabeth's magistrate's court when Myburgh was ordered to pay Bosch R17 500, which he did.

Bosch stopped the match but last weekend, refereeing a Division 1 Currie Cup match between the Leopards and the Pumas in Potchefstroom, he pulled up half way through the first half and was replaced by Jerome America. The damage done to his back had caused hamstring and calf problems.

Van Zyl was the man who tackled the referee Dave McHugh during a Tri-Nations match in Durban in 2002, so dislocating McHugh's shoulder that he could not continue.

*Cautionary note: In 2010, there was much South African upset aimed at Alain Rolland after the Springboks lost to New Zealand in their opening Tri-Nations match. André Watson, South Africa's refereeing boss, reports that there were 10 cases of assault of referees in South Africa the next weekend.

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Andrew sidelined in England shake-up

Ex-England flyhalf Rob Andrew was the major casualty of a shake-up of English rugby's management structure announced on Thursday.

Andrew's position as Director of Elite Rugby is being abolished in a move that could, perhaps, see former England coach Sir Clive Woodward return in a new role with the governing Rugby Football Union (RFU).

England team manager Martin Johnson, captain of the side that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup under Woodward, remains in charge but he is set to have a new boss with the likes of Australia's Eddie Jones and South Africa's Jake White also in the running for the new post of Performance Director.

However, the RFU said it had invited Andrew to apply for the new post of Rugby Operations Director.

It added that Andrew, previously the coach of Premiership club Newcastle, would stay in his current job for the "six to nine months" it would take to complete the revamp of the RFU.

Under the new set-up, a single rugby department has been created, divided into areas of performance, operations and development.

The changes were made following a review conducted by new RFU Chief Executive John Steele, who wants to ensure the team and the governing body are both best-placed to take advantage of England staging the 2015 World Cup.

"We have invited Rob to apply for the Rugby Operations Director role which is a game wide role responsible for creating the rugby infrastructure required to make rugby work across England," said Steele on Thursday.

"However, it is important to note that the development of this new structure will take six to nine months to put in place and in the interim those applying for roles will stay in their current position while the recruitment process happens and the transitions take place.

"This means that Rob Andrew will continue with his current responsibilities until the process is complete."

Steele added: "Today's announcement is all about looking forward not back and ensuring that we have the best people in place to serve and lead rugby in England as we prepare for a home World Cup in 2015.

"In view of this we are placing huge emphasis on developing the leadership and vision for the new rugby department. The three senior appointments in the rugby area are hugely important to the future of the game."

Andrew, 47, joined the RFU in 2006, seeing off competition from former coach Woodward - not everyone's favourite at the RFU and currently the British Olympic Association's Elite Performance Director.

But Andrew's time with the RFU has been marked by a largely unsuccessful period for the England team, an appearance in the 2007 World Cup Final apart.

Andrew, in a statement from the RFU on Thursday, said: "I am very excited about the future of the game in England, and the re-structuring that will place rugby at the heart of everything the RFU does.

"Change is never easy but there are some exciting opportunities and challenges ahead," he added.

"I will be considering the role of Rugby Operations Director in the coming weeks and in the meantime will continue with my responsibilities as Elite Rugby Director."

AFP

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Sharks and Springboks boosted by John Smit's return

Springboks captain John Smit has officially resumed training with the Sharks, and has fully recovered from surgery to his neck, which has seen him out of the game for the last four months.

However he may find fighting his way back into the Durban based side difficult though, with Bismarck du Plessis establishing himself as South Africa's best hooker with a series of excellent performances with the Sharks last year in the Currie Cup before holding the position in the Springboks failed Grand Slam tour.

Furthermore back up Sharks rake Craig Burden impressed and showed why he is considered an up-and-coming front rower from the Republic's scrum factory.

But the return of Smit will be pleasing news to coach Peter de Villiers, for while Smit may have his critics in regard to his potency on the field, there is no doubting that he is one of the great captains in world rugby history.

Returning to training with Smit is JP Pietersen, who has recovered from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of action last year.

The only front line player still in the Sharks casualty ward is Jean Deysel, with the physical loose forward still recovering from a knee injury suffered in last year's Currie Cup.

The Sharks begin their season with warm up matches in the Neo-Africa Tri-Series later this month. The Sharks, Lions and Stormers play each other at Newlands, with the Durban based outfit playing the Lions on February 1 and the Stormers on February 5.

In other news the South African Rugby Union (SARU) is due to announce a date for the antidoping tribunal for Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and wing Bjorn Basson.

Both players tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine, and have been banned from participating with the Bulls during their preseason training. Bulls team manager Wynie Strydom said they would contact SARU to hopefully speed up the process.

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Player Diary - Hika Elliot

Friday October 29th 2010

Dear Diary

Yesterday was a good long day. My wakeup call came through at 7.05am. I didn't want to be late for the scrum unit meeting at 7.30am. There has been a lot of content to
absorb this last week or so, especially as it's been the first week of the tour.

It's a definite step up from Super 14 rugby planning. It is a lot for me to take in as one of the new guys. The meeting went well, it really helped me understand what I
have to do and the detail of my role.

It's good to work with guys like Kev (Mealamu ) and Brad Thorn, they have been there and done it so many times and they are so willing to help us new boys. I play the same position as Kev but I am still able to lean on him and tap into his experience quite a lot. It's great. It makes for a real special environment.

This time around was a big bonus because I got to hear my name read out during the official All Blacks announcement of the squad for the Telecom BackingBlack tour of
Hong Kong, UK and Ireland. The first time I got called into the squad in the middle of a tour because of an injury. On the day of the announcement, we (Hawke's Bay) had just beaten North Harbour in the ITM Cup at McLean Park in Napier. I was talking to my coach, Tom Coventry, when we heard my name called out. It was an awesome
feeling.

We had two training sessions yesterday, one indoors and one outdoors in the lovely warm Hong Kong sunshine. The indoor session was a light mindset one of how we want
to approach this game against Australia. We worked on what part of the field we are going to do which moves and what each of our roles are in those situations.

I had a light lunch before the big session in the afternoon. I am not a big eater. I used to tip the scales at 130kg. Now I am around 108kg. So I have to watch my weight and keep my skinfold measurements inside my target. At my lightest I was 98kg, but I found it quite hard to stay injury free. I kept getting lots of little niggly injuries. So I had to chuck on a bit of beef. It was such a weird time for me. I have been overweight most of my life and trying to lose the fat.

The rest of the day was training and recovery at the pool and a couple of one on one meetings. That all went pretty well. The pool is at the Hong Kong Football Club, which is a real flash facility, especially for a little Maori boy from New Zealand like myself!

Alby Mathewson had to shout dinner for me and CJ (Cory Jane) because he lost our cards game of gin rummy. The highest score at the end of the game had to buy dinner
for the other two and I was real hungry last night. Yum.

Cheers,

Hika Elliot

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Australian and Queensland Rugby unite in flood crisis

Australian and Queensland rugby are uniting to assist during the flood crisis in the state, with the flooding the worst in over 100 years, with billions of damage caused and with the death toll confirmed at 10 people.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said the following.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the devastating floods in Queensland. To ensure those impacted by the flood waters are supported the ARU is donating $50,000 to the flood relief appeal and we are also working on other measures that will further support the communities affected," he said.

"The recent Flood Appeal Telethon, hosted by Channel 9, was supported by the Queensland Reds who provided players to answer phones and take donations through the course of the night.

"The Reds, with the support of the ARU, are also developing several projects that will aim to provide support and assistance to the areas impacted by the flood waters.

"I congratulate Qantas Wallabies and Queensland Reds players Anthony and Saia Faingaa who have announced they will donate their first Super Rugby game match payments to the flood relief appeal.

"I understand that other players are planning to make their own contributions to the appeal as the extent of the flooding unfolds.

Suncorp Stadium is under water, causing this weekends A-League football match to be called off, while Reds players are assisting in Ballymore, which is at risk of being flooded as well.

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WRU - Turner got it wrong

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has hit back at Newport Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner by revealing that flank Dan Lydiate was already injured and did not take part in any testing on Monday.

Turner had pulled no punches in his criticism of the national team management, claiming that they had caused Lydiate's injury which has forced him out of the Magners League clash with Connacht.

Turner went on to explain that Lydiate had been forced to undergo demanding physical tests despite his specific request that he be rested due to the short five-day turnaround between Magners League fixtures for the Dragons.

"It's a disgrace, especially as we're a region with not great resources," Turner had said.

Welsh rugby bosses say Lydiate was one of five Dragons players invited to take part in the session, the others being Toby Faletau, Will Harries, Aled Brew and Luke Charteris.

However the 20-year-old Faletau was apparently the only player to take part in any tests, which lasted just over two minutes according to the WRU.

"Whilst both Dan and Toby were invited to the WRU national centre of excellence at the Vale of Glamorgan Resort for testing, Dan was medically screened and declared unfit to take any part.

"Toby completed one test from the five involved, but this was a solely anaerobic test, lasting just 125 seconds, including running 450 metres.

"There should be no suggestion this test should in anyway damage the preparations of a professional athlete so far out from his next match.

"Fellow Dragons players Will Harries, Aled Brew and Luke Charteris were all also invited to the testing session and they each joined Dan in sitting out all of the tests," the WRU told the BBC.

This would seem to directly contradict statements made by Turner earlier in the week in an interview with the South Wales Argus.

The Dragons boss had said: "Dan went down there with a couple of knocks (shoulder and knee problems) but he's been strength tested and come back unfit.

"They had him in there and though his neck wasn't right they've messed around with it and made it worse, when we distinctly said our players should not be tested this week."

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Player Diary - Owen Franks

Thursday 11th November 2010

Dear Diary

I realised I was going to be a prop when I was younger because I was a bit more chubby than the other kids, not as fast and I had a lot of aggression. I didn’t mind doing the dirty work as such. I just enjoyed scrums, contact and tackling, but I wasn’t as good at the flashy stuff.

My brother, Ben, and I were never that big when we were young. We were obviously late developers. Dad got us both into strength training as 13 year olds. It wasn’t heavy stuff then, just good solid basics and technique stuff. At the end of every rugby season Dad would always have a new training programme for us to try. He always told us it was going to be the best one yet. It was awesome, I loved it.

From an early age I always knew I was going to have to work harder than anyone else. I knew it would serve me well in the end. I didn’t get selected for the good teams early on. But I never had any doubt that I would be an All Black because Dad told me I would make it. We did get teased a bit because if anyone asked me I didn’t hesitate to tell them I was going to be an All Black. It didn’t matter that I was a little chubby kid; I just had to train heaps.

During my second year of 1st XV rugby, I was in seventh form, and I got picked for the South Island team in a tournament. I made the NZ schoolboys rugby team from there. I didn’t get much game time because I was battling above my weight. But I realised then that I was going to get bigger with all the training I had planned and I would be able to pass the other guys and make it. I guess that’s what has happened.

I really do enjoy being part of getting good scrum ball to the backs to use. It’s something not a lot of people understand, even though people respect a good scrum. It’s probably my favourite thing to do in the All Blacks jersey.

Cheers,

Owen Franks

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Player Diary - Tom Donnelly

Saturday 10th July 2010

Dear Diary

Even though I woke up at 7.30am, I didn't get out of bed until  8.30am. After I had a wash I wandered down to breakfast. Normally I just have a bowl of cereal, but our nutritionist has changed my diet. So it's big breakfasts from now on because I have to bulk up a little bit.

I find it tough to fill in the long day before the match. So I end up doing lots of bits and pieces. Anthony Boric has just taught me how to do the Rubiks Cube. First I get the white face completed and then I have a set of steps to complete the whole cube. I'm not that quick but I can do it. So I had a good play on that before settling down to read my hunting magazine.

Later I met my cousin and we were able to have a good catch up over a coffee. I knew I had to get a bit more fuel in, so I headed back to the hotel and got some more food. But then I was bored so I actually went for a walk around the streets of Auckland. It was a lovely, sunny day and I ended up in a park, sitting down and gathering my thoughts together for the job ahead.

After lunch I sat in the team room and watched some hunting video clips on youtube. Eventually the team walk-through arrived. It was good to be able to walk and talk through our lineout and scrum moves and then go through a few set pieces at good pace. I had my pre-match meal of chicken, mash potatoes, eggs and some pasta bake. I'm supposed to eat small portions, heaps of times throughout the day. It's a bit of a struggle because I never feel that hungry on match day.

I packed my bag for the night and that took about an hour. While everything is in my bag, it's not particularly tidy. Sometimes I have to have a rummage through to check that I have everything. Since I was ready early, I watched 'Gone Fishing' and then the 'ITM Fishing Show'.

Finally we jumped on the bus and headed off to Eden Park. After I hung up my jersey and got all my stuff ready to go, I grabbed a programme and walked out onto the field. I soaked up the atmosphere, checked out the field and ate my can of creamed rice. I always put my boots on last and that's when I feel it's time to go, it's when I really focus hard on what my first job of the match will be. By then we usually know if we will be kicking or receiving the ball from the South Africans.

I remember the crowd being really awesome, much louder than usual. I can only imagine what it's going to sound like when it's full. I'm sure it will almost be as good as the new Dunedin stadium with the roof on. It was slightly odd that I could hear our conditioning coach Gilly (Nic Gill) shouting and cheering us on. It must have been because he was standing on the side of the field where there was no crowd. Normally I can't hear a thing off the field.

Our whole forward pack did their job really well; it just felt awesome to dominate. The big key is if we can do it again this week, we'll take a lot more satisfaction out of it. To do it once is good, but to back it up would be awesome.

Cheers,

Tom Donnelly

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