A storm is brewing in New Zealand and the threat is unrecognisable. A Hurricane is en-route and it has served notice on the rest of the Super Rugby title contenders in search of championship glory.
Naturally, the detractors have their doubts whether the Hurricanes from Wellington have the ability to be genuine champions even though their new, dashing brand of rugby is based on the tried and tested methods of all successful teams – teamwork and executing a game plan. However, after their round 10 knockout of the 7-times champions, Crusaders, this past weekend suddenly, the whispers are becoming louder and spoken with more seriousness. This Hurricanes team can win Super Rugby 2015.
Let that sink in.
The ‘Canes have long been a team for the fans – super star athletes with explosive abilities and a dazzling myriad of attacking genius to make any head spin – but they have never been seen as serious champions particularly not in New Zealand where their former champions the flamboyant Blues, the stoic Crusaders and the cunning Chiefs have set the bar increasingly high when it comes to winning the gladiatorial-styled tournament.
The ‘Canes have always had bucket loads of talent; after all, this is the team the All Black legends Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen played for in the late 90s and early naughties. The ability to play rugby has never been their problem.
Team work and belief have been. Because while the team has historically been home to incredible players like Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu, they have for all intents and purposes played as individuals. Coaches came and went, game plans introduced and rehashed, players moved on and boomeranged back, and, yet, the ‘Canes could not settle on a plan of attack that worked for them nor get their super stars to gel together and execute their strategy as a team.
Until now.
With new coach Chris Boyd and assistant coach John Plumtree who understand that the principles of teamwork bring success and a crop of exciting players such as Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett and Victor Vito who have, crucially, tasted success with the All Blacks, suddenly the ‘Canes aren’t the under-achieving also-ran team of the New Zealand conference. They are rightly being touted as worthy contenders who could very possibly be the 4th team from Aotearoa who goes on to win the coveted crown.
The New Zealand conference has been slightly unfamiliar-looking with the Crusaders imploding and the Canes taking their place as champions-elect, but the latter team has to keep their feet planted firmly on the ground and their eyes firmly focused on their title aspirations.
If their turnaround in fortunes has still left some watchers sceptical, they only need to look at veteran Ma’a Nonu’s Super Rugby form to confirm the ‘Canes are indeed the real deal.
Nonu has bounced between New Zealand franchises frequently displaying average performances with each team and seemingly leaving each one on acrimonious terms, leading to questions as to why All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen, repeatedly backed Nonu at national level. Not that Nonu didn’t repay Hansen’s faith; the majority of fans simply wanted to know why Nonu could deliver for the All Blacks and not for the ‘Canes.
This season it’s been different for him and his team of yellow and black Hurricanes. This year there is a game plan and there is structure. Moreover there is self-belief and team work. The storm alert from New Zealand is no longer coming from Christchurch, Auckland or Hamilton – the most threatening hurricane is emanating from the country’s capital and this time it’s no false alarm.
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