Rugby: Saucy sacrifice a winning ingredient

Jack Lam is determined to give his all to the Hurricanes before leaving for Bristol. Photo / Getty Images

Tomato sauce is a staple of many people's diet.

The popular condiment seems appropriate to put on nearly anything from scrambled eggs to sausages but Hurricanes' flanker Jack Lam decided to stop eating it this year.

The 26-year-old has made an eye-catching start to the Super Rugby season and some dietary tweaks could be behind his surge in form.

At the beginning of their campaign, each member of the Hurricanes had to give something up to reflect their allegiance to the cause.

"Everyone in the team knows I love tomato sauce," Lam said. "It's actually quite high in sugar; I didn't know that until the coach pointed it out so I cut that out as my commitment to the team."

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett was on point too. On average, there's 4.2g of sugar in every 100g of tomato sauce.

"It's quite funny because it's something small but it's actually worked a treat. It's helped me out," Lam said.

A more pressing statistic to back up Lam's impressive efforts early in the season is the Hurricanes only lose an average of three rucks per game that they take the ball into, which is the joint-best figure in the competition next to the unbeaten Chiefs.

Lam will leave the Hurricanes at the end of the season to link with English club Bristol but the Samoan international said he had no regrets about his impending departure.

"I'm happy with my decision. I think it's the right move for me," he said. "So, I guess that was another key factor in how I'm playing at the moment, I'm just trying to give everything to the Hurricanes."

Injuries to Hurricanes loose forwards Brad Shields and Victor Vito have also helped Lam stand out and while seemingly everyone has been calling to see more of Ardie Savea, Lam has continued to thrive.

Lam and Savea will both start for the Hurricanes tonight against the Highlanders in Dunedin as part of a rejigged loose forward unit with Faifili Levave at No 8.

That back row has a dynamic look to it and they will need to be at their best against an abrasive Highlanders outfit who will be smarting from last week's 31-29 loss to the Western Force.

After the Hurricanes notched their first win of the season with a 60-27 victory over the Cheetahs at the Cake Tin last Saturday, the pressure on their coaching staff has tapered down a level.

"Everyone knows that's just a starting point," Lam said.

"We have to take on that momentum and try and put in another good performance this week."