It's been a battle since his debut 171 against England on his home ground in Dunedin early last year. Only once has the 25-year-old passed 50 in his subsequent 26 test innings - a 62 against the West Indies in Dunedin at the end of last year.
There was a 48 not out to steer New Zealand to victory in Hamilton in that same series, but it's otherwise been a frustrating time. Rutherford has been retained for the second test, partly because there's a hope he's not far away from coming right and partly because there's no immediate, and obvious, replacement.
Martin Guptill is seen as a one-day opener, Dean Brownlie has had just a handful of ODIs opening this season and the likes of Auckland's Jeet Raval are a way down the pecking order.
One option was to try someone else, on the basis New Zealand don't play their next test until May, at Lord's. But the selectors have stuck with Rutherford as he's the man they'd like to see come right.
McCullum drew a parallel with Peter Fulton, who opened with Rutherford through his first 12 tests.
Fulton's form deserted him some time before his last test but he was regarded as an important cog in the setup - a senior, respected figure.
"There's always pressure on your place, even when you achieve five test wins," McCullum said. "There are going to be guys who aren't quite getting the performances they and the team want. But you look at the overall package and how they're fitting in with the group."
If a player is on the outside looking in, it might be seen as a case of being harder to get dropped than get in, but there's a reluctance to tamper with a side playing so well and consistently right now.
"Hamish knows he needs runs. I thought he looked organised and I'm sure over time the runs will come.
"You don't want to put external pressure on these guys because, ultimately, he's got to be able to feel he can play with freedom.
"We just have to keep trying to make sure we're thinking how to build the group and, as long as we're winning, that gives guys more opportunities."
