I’ve really struggled with writing this weeks episode of Hurricane watch. I try to present a fair, balanced view of the game, pointing to the strengths of each team, and the areas of improvement. I also freely admit to being a Hurricanes fan, so naturally I want to put them in the best light possible. But it’s now three days after the game on Friday…and I got nuthin.
The Hurricanes just did not perform. They sort of showed up for the first twenty minutes then…nothing. Just, nothing. No offence, no defence, no spark, no fire, no hunger. Nothing. It was hugely frustrating as a fan to watch the team I follow categorically implode. The Brumbies didn’t really perform in a massively spectacular fashion, but they didn’t have to. This was one of those games where it wasn’t a case of being great, just being good enough. Twenty minutes of lackluster action gave way to sixty minutes of Brumby lead domination. Of a sort.
Yes, there were some good performances from the likes of Ben Franks, and yes there were some sparks of a team that’s not short of All Black level talent. There just wasn’t the cohesiveness or consistency that the Hurricanes have been lacking for a while. This is the third straight defeat of the season, fifth if you include the preseason. The wheels haven’t just come off, they’ve exploded.
Tighthead Prop John Schwalger though is quick to quell fan concerns in an article on the All Blacks website however, pointing to improvements at the scrum – and it must be acknowledged the Hurricanes WERE fantatsic in their scrum game – and an improved focus on keeping the ball in hand. Schwalger also spoke out in support of embattled coach Mark Hammett, saying ” I don’t know why people are blaming the coaches, because they can only do so much. They’re not the ones on the field.”
“I said it before, I have all the faith in him and we just have to do it for him and everyone else.”
The issue at hand however is the Hurricanes just don’t seem to be doing it. Or in fact much of anything. Does the blame for this lie at the feet of the coach? No, probably not. But the simple fact is, this isn’t the NFL. They don’t cut players halfway through the season if they’re not performing. Instead there’s a collective dummy spit at the end of the season and the coach is put to the sword.
Although that said, the question does have to be posed, Is Hammett the man for the job? ESPNscrum have quietly suggested Tana Umaga could be a natural successor to Hammet, especially based on his success with Counties Manukau in the ITM Cup. On paper, that sounds like a great idea. On paper however the Hurricanes are a great team. Yes, Umaga has the history. Yes he has the experience, and yes he is considered Hurricanes royalty. It needs to be remembered though, Super Rugby is a far bigger stage than the ITM cup. My concern would be that Umaga would be coming in with such high expectations on him that if the Hurricanes continued their slide he would be crucified in the media.
There needs to be a number of crucial changes in the team before the coaching discussion is seriously undertaken. Simply put, if the players aren’t performing, get rid of them. Todd Blackadder has already benched Israel Dagg once for the Crusaders when he wasn’t playing to standard. Hammett needs to do the same. Bring in some of the rookies from the wider training squad, bring in the fresh blood, and shake this team up.
The Hurricanes are at the bottom of the table. All the excuses under the sun are not going to make that go away. The bottom line is the Hurricanes have not performed, and they are being punished for it. The team needs to band together now and fight, or they are going to be demolished. More to the point, if they keep playing like they did on Friday they are going to lose games, they are going to lose fans, and they are going to lose any credibility they have.
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