The Hurricanes is a New Zealand rugby franchise team representing the lower North Island of New Zealand. The region is made up of East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatu, Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui and Wellington provincial Rugby unions. They have never won the Super Rugby title, but have been in the top 4 positions 6 times and finished second once. Their worst finish was in 2004 when they finished 11th out of 12 teams.
Most of their players are from Wellington with a couple from Taranaki and Hawke's Bay. 24 of their players are protected and may not be selected by other New Zealand teams. The rest are up for selection by any team. They can also select players from other regions who are not protected. all of their players are currently playing for teams in the Air New Zealand Cup. The Air New Zealand Cup is the NZ equivalent of the Currie Cup, played by 14 teams annually.
This is the how the Hurricanes have done in Super Rugby since inception:
Super 12 Placings
Year Play Win Draw Loss Place
1996 11 3 0 8 9th
1997 11 6 0 5 3rd (lost semi-final to Brumbies)
1998 11 5 0 6 8th
1999 11 4 1 6 10th
2000 11 6 0 5 8th
2002 11 5 0 6 9th
2003 11 7 0 4 3rd (lost semi-final to Crusaders)
2004 11 4 1 6 11th
2005 11 8 0 3 4th (lost semi-final to Crusaders)
Super 14 Placings
Year Play Win Draw Loss Place
2006 13 12 0 1 2nd (Lost final to the Crusaders)
2007 13 6 0 7 5th
2008 13 10 0 3 3rd (lost semi-final to Waratahs)
2009 13 9 0 4 3rd (lost semi-final to Chiefs)
2010 13 7 1 5 8th
Super Rugby placings
Year Play Win Draw Loss Place
2011 16 5 2 9 9th (4th Conference/9th Overall)
Mark Hammet will coach the squad who will be lead by Conrad Smith. These are the players:
PROPS
Michael Bent
Reggie Goodes
Ben May
Tristian Moran
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen
HOOKERS
Dane Coles
David Hall
Motu Matu'u
LOCKS
James Broadhurst
Jason Eaton
Mark Reddish
Jeremy Thrush
LOOSE FORWARDS
Jack Lam
Faifili Levave
Karl Lowe
Brad Shields
Victor Vito
SCRUM HALFS
Chris Eaton
TJ Perenara
Chris Smylie
FLY HALFS
Beauden Barrett
Daniel Kirkpatrick
Tusi Pisi
CENTRES
Tim Bateman
Jayden Hayward
Charlie Ngatai
Conrad Smith (c)
WINGS
Richard Buckman
Alapati Leiua
Julian Savea
Andre Taylor
Super 12 Placings
Year Play Win Draw Loss Place
1996 11 3 0 8 9th
1997 11 6 0 5 3rd (lost semi-final to Brumbies)
1998 11 5 0 6 8th
1999 11 4 1 6 10th
2000 11 6 0 5 8th
2002 11 5 0 6 9th
2003 11 7 0 4 3rd (lost semi-final to Crusaders)
2004 11 4 1 6 11th
2005 11 8 0 3 4th (lost semi-final to Crusaders)
Super 14 Placings
Year Play Win Draw Loss Place
2006 13 12 0 1 2nd (Lost final to the Crusaders)
2007 13 6 0 7 5th
2008 13 10 0 3 3rd (lost semi-final to Waratahs)
2009 13 9 0 4 3rd (lost semi-final to Chiefs)
2010 13 7 1 5 8th
Super Rugby placings
Year Play Win Draw Loss Place
2011 16 5 2 9 9th (4th Conference/9th Overall)
Mark Hammet will coach the squad who will be lead by Conrad Smith. These are the players:
PROPS
Michael Bent
Reggie Goodes
Ben May
Tristian Moran
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen
HOOKERS
Dane Coles
David Hall
Motu Matu'u
LOCKS
James Broadhurst
Jason Eaton
Mark Reddish
Jeremy Thrush
LOOSE FORWARDS
Jack Lam
Faifili Levave
Karl Lowe
Brad Shields
Victor Vito
SCRUM HALFS
Chris Eaton
TJ Perenara
Chris Smylie
FLY HALFS
Beauden Barrett
Daniel Kirkpatrick
Tusi Pisi
CENTRES
Tim Bateman
Jayden Hayward
Charlie Ngatai
Conrad Smith (c)
WINGS
Richard Buckman
Alapati Leiua
Julian Savea
Andre Taylor
FULL BACKS
Cory Jane
The following players came in for the 2012 season:
Beauden Barrett (from Taranaki)
Tim Bateman (from Coca Cola West Red Sparks)
Ben May (from Chiefs)
Brad Shields (from Wellington Lions)
Jeff Toomaga-Allen (from Marist St. Pat's)
David Hall (from Crusaders)
Tusi Pisi (from Suntory)
Tristian Moran (from Bay of Plenty)
Motu Matu'u (from Wellington Lions)
Reggie Goodes (from Wellington Lions)
TJ Perenara (from Wellington Lions)
Chris Smylie (from Blues)
And these guys left for greener grass:
Aaron Cruden (to Chiefs)
Bryn Evans (to London Irish)
Andrew Hore (to Highlanders)
Hosea Gear (to Highlanders)
Ma'a Nonu (to Blues)
Rodney So'oialo (to Honda Heat)
John Schwalger (to Agen)
Neemia Tialata (to Bayonne)
Piri Weepu (to Blues)
Jacob Ellison (to Highlanders)
The Hurricanes will have a tough season and will be watching the full back position intently. They only have one full back in Cory Jane and this might prove to be a problem. Further more they don't have any real stars but for Conrad Smith and Cory Jane. Then again this might not be a bad thing as the playerswould want to prove themselves to the All Black selectors.
I don't see them improving much on their 2011 performance and they will fight for the 4th position in the All Black Conference. Over all they will be mid table once again. That they can make the play-offs is always a possibility, but I won't bet the house on it. The Hurricanes might blow a team or two away but that will be it. The winds are not strong enough yet and I see them as no more than just a gust of wind.
But as always this is just my view...
Dave
Cory Jane
The following players came in for the 2012 season:
Beauden Barrett (from Taranaki)
Tim Bateman (from Coca Cola West Red Sparks)
Ben May (from Chiefs)
Brad Shields (from Wellington Lions)
Jeff Toomaga-Allen (from Marist St. Pat's)
David Hall (from Crusaders)
Tusi Pisi (from Suntory)
Tristian Moran (from Bay of Plenty)
Motu Matu'u (from Wellington Lions)
Reggie Goodes (from Wellington Lions)
TJ Perenara (from Wellington Lions)
Chris Smylie (from Blues)
And these guys left for greener grass:
Aaron Cruden (to Chiefs)
Bryn Evans (to London Irish)
Andrew Hore (to Highlanders)
Hosea Gear (to Highlanders)
Ma'a Nonu (to Blues)
Rodney So'oialo (to Honda Heat)
John Schwalger (to Agen)
Neemia Tialata (to Bayonne)
Piri Weepu (to Blues)
Jacob Ellison (to Highlanders)
The Hurricanes will have a tough season and will be watching the full back position intently. They only have one full back in Cory Jane and this might prove to be a problem. Further more they don't have any real stars but for Conrad Smith and Cory Jane. Then again this might not be a bad thing as the playerswould want to prove themselves to the All Black selectors.
I don't see them improving much on their 2011 performance and they will fight for the 4th position in the All Black Conference. Over all they will be mid table once again. That they can make the play-offs is always a possibility, but I won't bet the house on it. The Hurricanes might blow a team or two away but that will be it. The winds are not strong enough yet and I see them as no more than just a gust of wind.
But as always this is just my view...
Dave
RSS Feed