'Underdogs': Why the Hurricanes aren't the real deal ahead of Chiefs clash
The Hurricanes are top of the Super Rugby Pacific table but former All Black No 8 Steven Bates does not think they are the real deal yet ahead of a crunch match with the Chiefs.
They moved to 6-1 after the first seven rounds after beating the Highlanders in Dunedin 29-14 off the back of another impressive performance by halfback Cam Roigard.
But the undefeated Chiefs, who have a game in hand after their bye round, deserve to be considered Super Rugby’s best team according to Bates after a stronger schedule.
The Waikato-based franchise has knocked off the Crusaders, Blues and Highlanders already and are looking for a clean sweep of the four other Kiwi sides.
“I do believe they’ve got a hell of a challenge this week in the Chiefs,” Steven Bates told Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown.
“The Chiefs are the form team, I reckon the Brumbies are there or thereabouts, but what I will say about the Canes is I believe they will quite like that.
“They’ll go into the game this weekend as underdogs even though they are top of the table.
“I think they like that edge about what they are doing, that little chip on the shoulder.”
The former All Black loose forward said that the Hurricanes have benefitted from an easier schedule which has seen wins over four Aussie sides; the Melbourne Rebels, Waratahs, the Western Force, and the Queensland Reds.
They beat the Highlanders over the weekend, who are New Zealand’s worst franchise by some distance this season, but lost at home 25-13 to the Blues in their toughest encounter.
“But if I was a betting person I would go the Chiefs way, but what they’ve [Hurricanes] have done is pretty impressive,” Bates said.
“Through no fault of their own, they’ve had a nice run into the season. Well done to them, they can only beat the teams in front of them.”
Former All Black Carlos Spencer, who was an assistant coach with the Hurricanes for two seasons until 2020, said that the side has improved in an area which has typically been an Achilles heel for the club.
Spencer rated the current form of their midfield while he was impressed with the playmaking ability of left winger Salesi Rayasi.
“I think they are a much more rounded team now,” Spencer said.
“Up front around their set-piece, I think their tight five are now standing up but in the past they probably lacked that up front.
“Couple of guys in the midfield playing very well. We know what Jordie [Barrett] can do, Billy Proctor has been playing really well.
“Also Salesi [Rayasi] on the wing, with the stuff he’s creating.
“I just think all-round they’ve become a better side.”
Ex-All Black and Highlanders winger Jeff Wilson wasn’t sold on the Hurricanes after a beating a seriously undermanned Highlanders outfit who were missing their two key playmakers.
“There was no Aaron Smith and there was no Mitch Hunt, who was a late scratching for the Highlanders,” he said.
“The reality was, in this game [Highlanders vs Hurricanes], they were missing two players that they need to play well in every game.
“When they’ve played well, they’ve won. Those were two significant losses.
“The Highlanders hung in there but in the end they weren’t polished enough against a team that was playing well.”
The Chiefs have managed to beat the Hurricanes on home turf regularly, beating them eight times out of 22 clashes played in Hurricanes territory.
Clayton McMillan’s team picked up a one-point win in 2022 with a 30-29 victory at Sky Stadium extending their winning streak to three games over the Hurricanes.
The last Hurricanes win over the Chiefs came in 2020, a year in which they won all three clashes between the two sides.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
24 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments