News
February 19, 2012
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New Zealand Conference: Once again former champions lead Kiwi hopes
By SANZAR News Service
It is hard, as always, to go past the Crusaders and the Blues, who wield a remarkable ten Super Rugby championships between them, and while things may change, much remains the same in the New Zealand Conference…
The Crusaders, winners of seven titles, will begin the season without the services of arguably the world’s premier players in Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, but so much of the red and black machine’s success has come from smoothly absorbing the losses of key personal – and even without those two the side can still field seven World Cup winning All Blacks.
The Blues, who have won three straight pre-season matches, will begin with the typical favouritism that comes with being one of New Zealand’s largest player bases, and their chances are best summed up with the simple fact that three of the International Rugby Board’s World Players of the Year nominees – Jerome Kaino, Ma’a Nonu and Piri Weepu – will reside at Eden Park this year.
But while bookmakers may agree that the two proverbial heavyweights deserve the finest odds, there is a delicious amount of intrigue as to the fortunes of the Chiefs, the Highlanders and the Hurricanes.
The Chiefs have a deserved edge of ‘dark horse’ about them, with the franchise altered with the winds of change.
Dave Rennie replaces one of Super Rugby’s longest serving coaches in Ian Foster, and will be joined with the most credentialed of lieutenants in World Cup winning assistant coach Wayne Smith.
The loss of Chiefs veterans such as Mils Muliaina, Stephen Donald and Sitiveni Sivivatu is handsomely compensated by the arrival of Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams – but the marquee threat of the 2009 runners up backline is something that has been a feature of Super Rugby before.
As always the focus will be on the Chiefs tight five, and while they have a verifiable squadron of back row forwards, the tactical application of Rennie and Smith’s nous will be crucial as will pack coach Tom Coventry’s tutelage up front.
The application of the basic rugby arts in the tight exchanges is something the Highlanders will be once again well versed at applying.
Last season may have seen injuries derail a potential Southerner’s fairy tale, but the reality is that the structural polish that coach Jamie Joseph added to a team already historically fortified with substance up front made the Highlanders a force again.
The introduction of World Cup winners in Andrew Hore and Hosea Gear will be reason for more enthusiasm, as will the shift to their new ultra-modern stadium.
Some may feel that the Hurricanes are starting at a bottom finish placing in the New Zealand Conference, astonishingly now with the fewest test representatives of any kiwi franchise, and deep in the midst of rebranding.
While the departure of a host of All Blacks left a sour taste in many locals mouths, former Crusaders assistant and head coach Mark Hammett is working to a vision, and while patience may not be forthcoming from the faithful – there is an honesty about their 2012 squad that can be appreciated.
Buttressed with several members of Taranaki’s Ranfurly Shield winning squad, a province that itself has become a contender thanks to the hard work of former Hurricanes boss Colin Cooper, the Hurricanes may be short on experience but looks to have plenty of heart.
Such emotion will be crucial, if they are to win the most important battle of all, that for their fans.
But the more things change, the more they stay the same, and it looks on paper at least as if the Crusaders and Blues will be the heavy hitters in the New Zealand Conference.
Coaches Todd Blackadder and Pat Lam are both entering their fourth year respectively as head coaches for the Crusaders and Blues, while it has been since 2008 (Crusaders) and 2003 (Blues) since the kiwi giants have claimed a Super Rugby title.
Boasting their usual array of stars, the pressure will be on both teams to go all the way, especially with the heavy air of World Cup winning success in the squads.