Rugby: Canes bring in old guard for Crusaders

Piri Weepu. Photo / Getty Images

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper is banking on experience to keep his team's Super 14 rugby hopes alive as they head into tomorrow night's clash against the Crusaders in Wellington.

With the Hurricanes sitting in eighth place after four consecutive losses, the most recent a 29-26 defeat to the Sharks last weekend, Cooper yesterday named a raft of senior players in his starting lineup in the hope of pulling the team out of their rut.

"We'll be looking for a lot more composure than what we had against the Sharks, we were putting a lot of pressure on ourselves and forcing things, so we've just got to have a lot of confidence," Cooper said.

"If you look at the team we've got a lot of experience in there. We're not far away, we've missed the last two games by four points so we've just got to really trust what we're doing."

Among the changes to the team, All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu returns after being forced into the reserves by Tyson Keats for the last two fixtures.

"He's obviously got a lot of experience over Tyson. Tyson's given us what we needed, particularly in Africa he gave us a lot of energy and Piri wasn't playing to the standard we know he can play," Cooper said. "But I felt that Piri really came on and made an impact in that second half against the Sharks so he gets his opportunity, but mainly it's the experience that he brings."

All Blacks winger Hosea Gear returns for the first time since suffering a knee injury in the team's season debut against the Blues.

"Again, more experience. There are a lot of caps in Piri and Hosea," Cooper said. "Bringing H [Gear] back in, he's been working the house down as he usually does so he'll bring experience and confidence. As a coach and leader you look to reasons why you keep losing, particularly four in a row, so we're doing a lot of things differently."

Weepu said despite the frustration of being on the bench for the past two weeks, he felt it meant he was better prepared for tomorrow's game.

"It's given me the opportunity to look at the game a lot more closely and get the feel of it before I take the field," he said.

"It's going to be pretty tough, especially against the Crusaders.

"They're sitting third on the table, and they're always the team to strive to be like every campaign so obviously there's no extra motivation needed in this game."

Gear was also looking forward to being on the field for the crucial game.

"It's pretty exciting for me. I've been out in a while focusing on getting the injury right, but I'm pretty confident I'll be able to get through the game and I'm really looking forward to it," Gear said.

"It's probably going to be the turning point of our season. We're down four in a row, we really can't afford to let any more games slip away from us so I think we want to first and foremost concentrate on our own performance and hopefully results go from there."

Also facing a must-win game this weekend are the Chiefs, who take on the Highlanders in Mt Maunganui on Saturday.

After losing their last three games, the 2009 finalists sit in seventh place and will be looking to recapture their former glory against the 11th-placed Highlanders.

Wellington, 7.35pm tomorrow

HURRICANES
Cory Jane
Tamati Ellison
Conrad Smith
Ma'a Nonu
Hosea Gear
Willie Ripia
Piri Weepu
Rodney So'oialo
Karl Lowe
Victor Vito
Michael Paterson
Jeremy Thrush
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore (c)
John Schwalger

CRUSADERS
Colin Slade
Sean Maitland
Robbie Fruean
Ryan Crotty
Zac Guildford
Daniel Carter
Andy Ellis
Kieran Read
George Whitelock
Richie McCaw (c)
Sam Whitelock
Brad Thorn
Owen Franks
Ti'i Paulo
Wyatt Crockett

Hurricanes: Dane Coles, Anthony Perenise, Bryn Evans, Scott Waldrom, Tyson Keats, Aaron Cruden, Jason Kawau.

Blues: Daniel Perrin, Ben Franks, Chris Jack, Thomas Waldrom, Kahn Fotuali'i, Adam Whitelock, Jared Payne.

- NZPA