By WYNNE GRAY
Picking the Hurricanes as a Super 12 semifinalist seems a fanciful idea.
Success and Wellington rugby are touted as companions each season before they regularly unravel.
But at some stage consistency will allow the two parties to bond. Now seems as good a time as any.
The foundation is there
for coaches Graham Mourie and Bryan Williams.
Wellington's deserved NPC triumph last season and first-division franchise partner Taranaki's advance to the semifinal underpin the playing strength.
No longer do the Hurricanes have to take other franchises' leftovers - hooker Davin Heaps is the squad's only draft player.
They will be supported by raucous crowds for four games in the Wellington CakeTin and they appear to be favoured by a draw that gets them away to South Africa early then gives them a bye with a three-match stretch to the finish.
If their pack and discipline hold out, the Hurricanes will have made great strides towards the final four.
Trojan tighthead prop Gordon Slater takes over as captain and new loose forwards such as Jerry Collins and Rodney So'oialo are sensational talents to put alongside Kupu Vanisi and Filo Tiatia, if he can avoid injury.
NZA lock Dion Waller will be Slater's main ally in the tight five, the only area where there are any doubts that this squad is top-notch talent. Norm Hewitt and Heaps will hang tough but the coaching staff will need to wring a little more from others including Kevin Yates, Tony Coughlan, Tony Penn, Inoke Afeaki and Paul Tito to allow the backline wonders to do the damage.
Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga and Brad Fleming bring exceptional pace, power and size to the backs.
Jason O'Halloran is a midfield master, while David Holwell and Jason Spice have formed a solid and potent combination in the halves, with Holwell gaining the goalkicking percentages needed to win the tight games.
The omens look favourable but there is a nagging caution. Expectation and Wellington rugby battled for too long for prosperity until the NPC victory last year in Christchurch.
Mourie and Williams must now deal with the pressure of Super 12 optimism.
The Hurricanes have a smart blend of experience and promise with a huge mix of talent to channel towards an initial target of making the semifinals for the first time since 1997.
New Zealand's Super 12 squads
2001 Super 12 schedule
By WYNNE GRAY
Picking the Hurricanes as a Super 12 semifinalist seems a fanciful idea.
Success and Wellington rugby are touted as companions each season before they regularly unravel.
But at some stage consistency will allow the two parties to bond. Now seems as good a time as any.
The foundation is there
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.