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There has been much angst in the New Zealand capital after the Hurricanes lost no less than 14 players during the Super Rugby off-season.
After losing the likes of Piri Weepu, Ma’a Nonu, Hosea Gear and Andrew Hore – names that for years were the face of the franchise – many pundits have predicted that the ‘Canes will end the competition cold, dead, last.
Those pundits have some very good arguments for their apocalyptic predictions. Gone are the razzle- dazzle rugby players the Hurricanes have become known for, replaced with a rag-tag bunch of misfits, journeymen and up-and-comers looking for more game time.
There is, however, one key person who remains at the helm of the Hurricanes. Mark Hammett has been criticised by all and sundry in Wellington, blamed for the mass exodus that has happened from the capital.
All is not lost, however. The Hurricanes have been known throughout the years as inconsistent.
One week they would play as though there was no side in the competition that could beat them, the next they would look as though they were foreign to the sport, having never seen a rugby game let alone played one.
The culture of a side who so readily accept mediocrity when they have such explosive power has to be questioned. A side with Weepu, Nonu, Gear and Hore, along with many other All Blacks past and present, should be winning. Winning week in, week out.
With a change of team may come a change of culture. One only has to look where Hammett has come from to see an example of a winning culture.
Hammett played seven years of Rugby for the Crusaders and Canterbury before becoming the forwards and then assistant coach of the most successful rugby team in the world.
It can only be assumed that Hammett isn’t used to losing and now that it’s happened more often he’s found he doesn’t like it.
Seemingly Hammett is trying to change the way rugby is thought about in Wellington. He is trying to create a culture where winning is not requested; it is required.
A culture where losing is unacceptable. He has removed those players who, for whatever reason, do not agree with the culture he is trying to implement.
Sports teams around the world have had their sides cleaned out in an attempt to change the culture, some with great success. The most recent example in Australasian Sport is Brisbane Roar.
When Ange Postecoglou took over the roar in late 2009 they were in crisis. Crowd numbers were down and the Roar were in the midst of a slump that would see them win just one of seven games.
At the end of that season the Roar finished second last. During the start of his tenure Postecoglou retrenched players who were not a part of his vision for a successful football club. Charlie Miller, Bob Malcolm and Craig Moore were all moved on, even though they had prestigious careers at a high level.
The next season the Roar recruited well and created a culture where winning was the only option. They learnt how to win consistently – and believed they could win in any situation, as they did in the grand final of 2010/11.
In that match, down 2-0 with 12 minutes to go in extra time, the team pulled off the most remarkable of victories.
I am not for a second suggesting the Hurricanes will win the competition – at least not this season. They won’t. However, the catastrophe that many are predicting will not come to fruition.
Given a season or two to develop his new recruits, Hammett may be able to work this side into a team that will win, and win consistently. A team that, unlike the star-studded ‘canes sides of the past, is able to win a Super Rugby title.
In a few seasons supporters of the capital’s rugby franchise may look back at the exodus of the off season just gone and see a blessing, rather than the nightmare they feel like they are currently enduring.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.