Welcome, Guest.
Please register or login below:
 
 
Hurricanes 2002 - Preview
Hurricanes 2002 - Preview
(Can the Canes crack the semis?)
[]
Well, once again we see the Hurricanes starting lineup. Like all teams for next year (except perhaps the Crusaders who seem to have absolutely no weaknesses at all on paper), this lineup has some incredible strengthes and some woeful weaknesses. For your convenience here is the full Hurricanes squad.

Forwards:
Tony Coughlan Wellington Prop

Jason Hooper Taranaki Prop
Tony Penn Taranaki Prop
Gordon Slater Taranaki Prop

Shane Carter Wellington Hooker
Andrew Hore Taranaki Hooker

Milton Ngauamo Wellington Lock
Paul Tito Taranaki Lock
Dion Waller Wellington Lock

Luke Andrews Wellington Loose forward/lock
Jerry Collins Wellington Flanker/No.8
Campbell Feather Taranaki No.8
Rodney So'oialo Wellington Flanker
Brent Thompson Taranaki Loose forward
Kupu Vanisi Wellington Flanker

Backs:
Brendan Haami Taranaki Halfback
Jason Spice Wellington Halfback

David Holwell Wellington 1st 5/8
Riki Flutey 1st 5/8 / Halfback

Pita Alatini Wellington 2nd 5/8
Bryce Robins Taranaki Midfield back
Shannon Paku Wellington Centre
Tana Umaga Wellington Centre

Lome Fa'atau Wellington Wing
Brad Fleming Wellington Wing
Jonah Lomu Wellington Wing

Christian Cullen Wellington Fullback
Daryl Lilley Taranaki Fullback

So these 30 guys are the ones who are going to have another "entertaining crack at the elusive trophy". And all evidence shows that this may be the most credible attempt yet. At last we've got rid of Norm Hewitt who's finally realised he's no good at Rugby anymore and has taken up a career in having biographies written about his life. Now I'll go into some depth about why this team is a much improved team and has a good chance to win the comp next year.

Props: Gordon Slater probably has loosehead, but the other is really up for grabs. The propping department is probably the Hurricane's biggest liability. If you look at the other teams most of them have at least one big name - Blues have Kees Meuews, Crusaders have the best two props in the country, etc.. Unfortunately the Hurricanes don't compare.

Hooker: After finally getting rid of Norm, Shane Carter is there to fill the void, and he's not doing badly either. Showed great NPC form and usually found his man in the lineouts.

Locks: For those who saw the Wellington VS North Harbour match you will remember Dion Waller was everywhere. He performed a couple of clearing kicks, a great touchfinder, was solid in the lineouts did some great tackles and looked for a moment like having an attempt at a drop goal! He looks like the partner for Chris Jack in the All Blacks to me. In the Hurricanes, Paul Tito looks to be the other lock.

Loosies: Jerry Collins at No. 8, Rodney So'oialo for one of the flankers and the other flanker is a bit trickier. I'd pick Kupu Vanisi by a whisker.

Halfback: Jason Spice. He hasn't been in the best of form of late, but he is experienced and can recover. Unfortunately, it must be said that he is part of the worst NZ Super 12 inside back combination along with.......

1st 5/8: ....... David Holwell. The only current New Zealand Super 12 1st 5/8 not ever considered for the All Blacks at some point. With the most lethal midfield and back three in the world outside them, Holwell and Spice must work hard to unleash them. However - Holwell IS an excellent goalkicker, so maybe we SHOULD find a place for him in the All Blacks!

2nd 5/8: Pita Alatini. Powerful, sidestepping and reasonably quick just like his midfield partner...

Centre: ...Tana Umaga. The main weakness of this incredible midfield will be if injury strikes either of them. DAMN! WHY DID WE HAVE TO LOSE PAUL STEINMETZ?

Wings: Jonah and Lome Fa'atau should do the trick. Jonah is the strongest runner in world rugby and whatever people might say, still a damn good player that no team wants to have to tackle when he's running at his remarkably quick pace. Lome Fa'atau showed great NPC form too; don't be surprised if his name comes up in Mitch's list sometime in the future.

Fullback: Cullen is the best fullback in the world. No argument. The rest over the summer and his subsequent return to his brilliant self during the Hurricanes campaign 2002 will stave off any challenges from those other two pretenders - who were they again? Leon Blair and Ben MacDonald or something. Not only the best fullback, but in the words of Tana Umaga, the best PLAYER in the world.

The Hurricanes have a lot going for them in 2002. Three of the world's rugby superstars, several other All Blacks, the biggest crowds and most loyal fans in the world: with Shane Carter they will shake the awful lineouts label they have had in the "Norm Era", and they have in Dion Waller a lock who looks like the next John Eales the way he's kicking (crossing fingers, hoping for a 4th superstar).

In my humble opinion the championship ladder will look like this:

Reds
Hurricanes
Crusaders
Stormers
--------
Sharks
Brumbies
Blues
Chiefs
Cats
Waratahs
Highlanders
Bulls

If the Hurricanes can beat the Crusaders at the WestpacTrust Stadium (which they will as long as we don't get Steve Walsh as ref), then they can travel to Ballymore for a very exciting and close grand final indeed.

Can the Hurricanes do it? By gum, I think they can.

by

Let us know what you think!

Cullen was the best fullback in the world, no doubt. But right now he's not the best fullback in the country (even some one-eyed Wellington supporters must agree that Rangi Macdonald get's the nod there at the moment) and on NPC form I wouldn't even rate him as the best fullback on the Hurricanes squad, Daryl Lilley gets that honour.

I have no doubt that Cully will be back in 2002 though...

Supposedly this article has been viewed times since we bothered to start counting*.
(Although it could have just been on the Reload button doing some serious ego padding!)