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Ex-All Black Justin Marshall not ‘entirely’ sold on Hurricanes as favourites
Former All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall isn’t “entirely” convinced the table-topping Hurricanes are the favourites to take out the Super Rugby Pacific title this season.
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The Hurricanes currently occupy pole position on the ladder with a flawless 7-0 record so far, with their only blemish to date being a golden point 38-33 win over the Reds in Melbourne.
Clark Laidlaw’s men have had to do it the hard way too by overcoming some menacing challenges in the Blues, Chiefs, Melbourne Rebels and the Crusaders in Christchurch.
What’s been especially impressive is the depth in their squad. Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui described the Canes as “a European-style team” before they faced the Highlanders.
The Hurricanes had made 14 changes to their starting side a week earlier to play the Rebels in Palmerston North and made 12 the following week to play in Dunedin.
But for all the praise and plaudits the Hurricanes have received this season, Justin Marshall isn’t sold on them being favourites. The former All Black explained why on The Breakdown this week.
“Traditionally in the past Hurricanes teams have faded a little in the last quarter (but) you can see they’re fit,” Mashall said on the Sky Sport NZ show.
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“They’ve got massive competition within the squad which I think is helping because players want to be out there – they want to be on the field playing this really exciting brand of rugby.
“Am I convinced that they are the favourites to win it? Not entirely. They are trending really well but the Chiefs on a night where they lost Anton Lienert-Brown before the game, Stevenson missing as well, and a few other things didn’t quite go their way.
Head-to-Head
Last 3 Meetings
Wins
1
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
16
43
First try wins
100%
Home team wins
67%
“They were still in the fight, so you can still compete with this Hurricanes side as good as they’re going at the moment.”
The Hurricanes registered another statement win over Saturday with a 36-23 win over New Zealand rivals the Chiefs. It was a clinical win in front of their home fans at Sky Stadium.
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First five Damian McKenzie helped give the Chiefs the lead with 30 minutes to play, but tries to TJ Perenara, Kini Naholo and Asafo Aumua swung the fixture back the Canes’ way.
While the men from the capital were clearly thrilled with the fight after full-time, it doesn’t get any easier for them with a trip to Fiji to take on the Drua up next.
The Fijian Drua may be seventh on the ladder but they’re also undefeated from three matches at home this season, which included a thriller against the Waratahs last month.
“Well go to Fiji and win as a start off. That’s their next challenge and that’s not easy,” Marshall explained when asked what the Hurricanes need to do to prove themselves.
“Talking to Clark Laidlaw… after the game, he said that’s the game nobody really wants. I think their only saving grace is it’s in Suva rather than Lautoka which has been pretty difficult for teams to win at.
“Getting on the road, winning those games away. They just scraped in against the Crusaders who are nearly bottom of the table.
“The next few tests that they’ve got coming up will be (important).”
Comments on RugbyPass
Finau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
5 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
5 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
114 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
5 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
8 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
1 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
5 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
8 Go to commentsI haven’t seen or heard to many whinging about Finau quite the opposite. The TMO’s have reviewed each time and taken no action, so if they have now been alerted it’s not from people whinging The player comes flying out of the line and launches himself at the attacker so it is probably ruled as a committed tackle, but at what point does it move to tackling a player without the ball Time will tell
5 Go to commentsThis cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
8 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
114 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
8 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
8 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
8 Go to comments