Hurricanes well seasoned

Conrad Smith. Marty Melville / Getty Images

The notion of the Hurricanes as New Zealand's yo-yo franchise - brilliant one week, botch-up artists the next - should be banished this season.

A glance at the cast for this campaign suggests the Hurricanes should be well capable of repeating their semifinal finish of last year.

The key to the 2005 result, according to coach Colin Cooper, was the greater depth of experience and maturity. With no notable defections, that will be an important ingredient if they are to repeat last year's success.

Dotted throughout the squad are players with a wealth of rugby knowledge. There are 12 All Blacks and players who have the capacity to produce moments of exhilaration.

"2006 is something that's been built over the last couple of years by Hurricanes and Wellington NPC coaches," Cooper said. "What we're seeing now is something that's been worked on and developed."

He's noticed increased self belief among his players. They have a new captain in No 8 Rodney So'oialo, whom Cooper describes as being one of the "follow me" type of leaders.

The man he's replaced as skipper offers Cooper one of his more intriguing challenges.

Tana Umaga is in a club of one, having retired from the All Blacks but given a dispensation to play in the Super 14. Cooper has two of the main candidates for Umaga's All Black centre role, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu. So how will he work it?

Does he play Umaga and one of the others or does he use Umaga primarily off the bench to let Smith and Nonu have every chance to push their All Black claims?

"We need to manage the players, give them opportunities for the All Blacks and I also have a responsibility to the Hurricanes," Cooper said. "So we'll take all those things into the mix and hopefully come out with the right answers."

Umaga will provide a sounding board for So'oialo and the management team, and Cooper is emphatic "what the All Blacks lose we gain".

As for expectations, Cooper prefers to keep his own counsel.

It's safe to assume a repeat run to the final four is the minimum for a seasoned group, and from there all things are possible.

Last season, they were convincingly beaten by the Crusaders in the final round robin, then crushed 47-7 a week later by the same team in the semifinals.

They had got their campaign off to a flying start, winning their first three games. This time they have the Blues at Eden Park tonight, followed by home games against the newcomers the Force and the Cats before hitting the road.

At least two wins from those three and they'll be up and running.

So where will their strengths lie?

The lineout, through new arrival Jason Eaton, Luke Andrews and Paul Tito should hold up. The loose forwards are as good as most, and they'll have skill and strength out the back.

There is a combative halfback in Piri Weepu, a skilled No 10 in Jimmy Gopperth, who is as good a goalkicker as most - of those who had 40 or more attempts last year, only David Hill bettered Gopperth's 77 per cent success rate - and versatile Isaia Toeava will attract special attention, given his surprise All Black call-up late last year. 


Key asset 

Conrad Smith
1.86m, 95kg
Age: 24
Super 12 games: 11
Tests: 6
Position: Centre

In an age where brawn and muscularity is more than ever the No 1 prerequisite, Smith is something of a throwback.

A thinking man's centre, Smith has cracked the All Black squad, has played six tests and will start the year the frontrunner to replace Umaga.

Among his challengers will be teammate Nonu, but Smith has good vision, passing and support skills, and is a brave defender. He will be the centre the others have to get ahead of in the race for the black No 13 against Ireland in June. 


Hurricanes - Pack needs to match the backs

How does the draw look?

A reasonable start. Eden Park tonight, then home to the newcomers the Force and the Cats before their one sticky patch, a three-game run in the republic against the Cheetahs - the other new boys - the Stormers and then up on the veldt against the Bulls. Two trips across the Tasman in their last four games.

The big challenge?

Making sure the pack's work matches the backline's capacity to dazzle. They've got a formidable loose forward trio, ball-winning lineout operators, which just leaves the front row. Step forward Neemia Tialata and co.

Where will Isaia Toeava (right) fit?

Fullback, at least initially. He's versatile, but that's where he won his test cap against Scotland last year. Jimmy Gopperth, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith seem to have 10, 12 and 13 wrapped up.

What happens if Umaga is the supreme midfield back in the competition?

For Colin Cooper that's just dandy. For the All Blacks? Tough. 

 
The squad

Backs: Shannon Paku, Lome Fa'atau, Hosea Gear, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tana Umaga, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Tamati Ellison, Isaia Toeava, Jimmy Gopperth, David Holwell, Brendan Haami, Piri Weepu.

Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Thomas Waldrom, Serge Lilo, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Luke Andrews, Ross Kennedy, Jason Eaton, Paul Tito, Neemia Tialata, Joe McDonnell, Tim Fairbrother, John Schwalger, Luke Mahoney, Andrew Hore.

New arrivals: Ellison, Holwell, Toeava, Haami, Eaton, Schwalger.

Departures: Kristian Ormsby (Chiefs).

Pre-season: Beat the Force 40-7; lost to the Chiefs 27-26.