Rugby: Close losses story of Hammett's time at helm

Coach Mark Hammett's side have lost eight games this year and six of them were by nine points or less. Photo / Getty Images

If Mark Hammett wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat this week it could be following a nightmare about the amount of close losses the Hurricanes have suffered under his watch.

It's possibly a bit harsh to say, but last Friday's 24-16 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton was an 80-minute encapsulation of Hammett's four-year coaching tenure at the Wellington-based franchise.

Putting aside the player clear-out of 2011, which helped change the culture of the squad, his team was never able to win the games that mattered most.

The Hurricanes finished ninth in 2011, eighth the following year and 11th last season.

Heading into the final week of the regular season they have the bye, and bar a freakish string of results the fifth-placed side will drop out of playoff contention.

"I think it's unlikely," Hammett said of his side's playoff chances. "But one thing we've seen in this competition is it changes."

In 2012 the Hurricanes missed the finals by one victory and it seems likely it will be the same again this year. They have only themselves to blame.

Results like the 39-30 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney in round 12, where they bombed a 24-7 lead, happened with too much frequency for you to ever feel like the Hurricanes had turned the corner.

Hammett's side have lost eight games this year and six of them were by nine points or less.

The Hurricanes were able to close out their share of tight contests but when the blowtorch was applied with regularity they couldn't get it done.

"We had a chance there to score a playoff spot and we didn't take it," stand-in skipper Jeremy Thrush said of the loss to the Chiefs.

The Hurricanes weren't helped by suffering a handful of injuries during the past few weeks, with the absence of midfield linchpins Conrad Smith and Alapati Leiua particularly hurtful.

Now they will have to endure a nervous week before their fate is likely confirmed this weekend.

"We've got a bye and some guys have played a lot of footy," Hammett said.

Certain members of his squad will be thankful for a light week, but it will be one where they're likely left to wonder "what if?" about all those close games that slipped through their fingers.

In a dose of good news for the franchise, All Blacks second-five Ma'a Nonu looks set to return to the capital next year.