Hurricanes' Holmes enjoying 'happiest rugby' and helping Poua turn the tide

Renee Holmes has a new lease on life at Hurricanes Poua. The perennial Super Rugby Aupuki strugglers have suddenly found unprecedented form, winning consecutive matches for the first time in their history.

On 27 June, Poua rallied from 14-3 down and a red card to upset Chiefs Manawa 34-29 for their first win in 12 matches and 840 days.

A week later, they outclassed the champions, the Blues, 45-30, setting records for their biggest win, most points scored in a game, and most conversions and penalties.

The Black Ferns full-back was a major contributor in both wins at first-five-eighth. Against Manawa, she scored a try and kicked all four conversions and two penalties for 19 points.

She scored 20 points against the Blues with four conversions and four penalties. She’s missed only one shot at goal in her last 15 attempts while driving a team that scored nine tries in their last two games after they had scored just three in their first two.

“I came to Poua for game time and growth,” Holmes told RugbyPass. “The Hurricanes presented me with the opportunity to become a game driver with greater minutes in a new environment, which sounded like a great way to learn more about myself and my game.

“I played some 10 growing up and in my early days at Waikato in the FPC. At the World Cup last year, I spent some time there, but it’s been a gamble and a challenge.

“The biggest challenge is being the voice that drives the team and seeing space from a different perspective. Typically at full-back, you have more time and space. At first-five, you have to create space in tighter quarters. How do I channel that vision and trust the players beside me to create opportunities?

“10 is a position where there isn’t a lot of depth in New Zealand. Moving forward, it’s definitely an option internationally. Conversely, I feel like I’ve learned so much playing ten, I can transfer some of those lessons to make me a better full-back.”

New Poua coach Hayden Triggs has been a breath of fresh air. The former Manawatu and Maori All Blacks lock, together with Women’s Rugby World Cup-winning Black Ferns Emma Jensen and Mel Bossman, have instilled greater belief.

“We don’t get many men entering the women’s space, so you question their intentions at first,” Holmes said. “When I heard Triggsy speak, he had so much passion and energy. I thought, ‘this guy is ready’ for the job. He’s straight to the point but with empathy, and we know regardless of his tone, it comes from a good place.

“The theme of our season has been belief and changing the narrative. Triggsy has allowed us leaders to drive standards on and off the field. We live in a centralised NZCIS hub where the Black Ferns have trained. It’s a world-class facility, and more time together is making a huge difference.”

The Poua lost their first game against the Blues 42-7 but improved markedly in a narrow 18-15 loss to Matatu in their next start. Holmes said the Poua challenged Matatu despite lacking a lineout platform. Poua won only a third of their lineouts in the first two games.

With greater stability at set-piece, Poua have thrived. Unsurprisingly, Black Ferns winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga ranks in the top ten for metres gained, clean breaks, and offloads.

Full-back Arene Landon-Lane is showing the promise that earned her selection for the Black Ferns Under-20s in 2024. Locks Sam Taylor and Stacey Niao both rank in the top ten for tackles and lineouts won, providing the Poua pack with a sturdy spine.

Winger Wikitoria Viljoen scored a hat-trick in the Blues’ win and explained how the Poua leadership group is structured.

“Renee Holmes, Iritana Hohaia, Sam Taylor and Te Rauoriwa Gapper are our leadership group. They’re really supportive. Every mistake you make, they’re there to pick you up and give you confidence.”

It took Holmes only four games to equal Isabella Waterman’s (41) record for most points ever scored by a Poua player. Holmes previously scored a record 148 points with Chiefs Manawa and Matatu. In 2023 she scored a record 23 points in Matatu’s win over Manawa in the final.

“The numbers Renee has belted out have been impressive, and it helps that she’s a world-class athlete too,” coach Triggs said.

“It’s a team success when individuals achieve accolades, and she will be the first to highlight that the teamwork needed to set those opportunities up is the most important aspect of her achievements.”

The Poua finish what could already be described as a successful season with games against Matatu and Chiefs Manawa. Holmes believes the Hurricanes’ rise is only just beginning.

“You might have noticed in our last two wins that whenever we won a scrum, lineout, or turnover, little moments became big celebrations,” Holmes explained. “The energy from that flows through our whole game.

“We’re not taking anything for granted, but when things go right this team is humming. Honestly, the last two weeks have been some of the happiest rugby of my life.”