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'Underdogs': Why the Hurricanes aren't the real deal ahead of Chiefs clash

Du'Plessis Kirifi of the Hurricanes looks on during the round seven Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on April 08, 2023, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

 

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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