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Hurricanes supporters are learning a foreign language: Success!

Will Beauden Barrett be picked in the starting XV for the Rugby Championship? . (Credit: SNPA / Ross Setford)
Roar Guru
10th March, 2015
46

Learning a foreign language is the new challenge Hurricanes supporters are grappling with, following the perfect start to their season.

Consistency, accuracy, efficiency and intensity are words usually applied to the big boys of Super Rugby, not to the pack of pretenders that the Hurricanes traditionally travel in circles with.

However they’re in bountiful company, as only one team can win the title and since Super rugby began 19 years ago, only seven different teams have been crowned champions.

We’ve seen teams in the past that have started seasons promisingly or impressively, only to fade away frustratingly when the chance for glory is within reach, and we don’t know if this year will be any different for the Hurricanes.

But for their true supporters they’re content that their team has started the season differently. They’re making a difference in areas of their game that have habitually been a problem, and the change in personnel on and off the field are making a positive difference.

Historically for the Hurricanes scoring points has never been a problem, running the ball has never been a problem, and having a ball off the field has never been a problem. But now the Hurricanes are demonstrably better at playing without the ball, they’re better at winning the ball, and they’re making better decisions about what to do with the ball instead of over-relying on individual brilliance.

That in itself is enough to give the opposition cause for concern, because in the past they knew to target the Hurricanes forwards as the weak link and choke them out of the game, and by association the threat posed by their dangerous backs. The forwards’ increased physicality in defence, improvement in scrummaging and ability to advance metres across the advantage line sets a steady platform for the backs to launch when they’re ready to, rather than because they have to.

In Africa, former Springbok great Joel Stransky was so impressed by the efficiency of the Hurricanes’ exit plays against the Lions and Bulls during his commentary that he called them brilliant!

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That’s right, the Hurricanes’ exit plays – not a sweeping attacking movement or a perfectly executed backline move – their exit plays were brilliant.

It’s a long season ahead and the next phase will feature games against their fellow Kiwi sides and more games against the other contenders.

Doubters and sceptics will linger on the periphery, waiting to burst the growing bubble of confidence, but that is the cross all pretenders must bear until they finally achieve respect and recognition by winning a championship.

But for now, I am loving watching my team play.

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