Hurricanes buckle in for another rollercoaster ride

Being a Hurricanes supporter requires the patience of a saint, and the constitution of a rollercoaster junkie.

In five of the nine Super 12 seasons, the Wellington-based franchise have finished in the bottom third. That is partially balanced by twice making the semifinals.

If you're a neutral, the beauty of the Hurricanes is that, like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you don't know what you're going to get when they run out of the tunnel.

But coach Colin Cooper sounds upbeat about this being the year they will make a real dent in the competition. He put last year's 11th placing down to the need to regroup, with a bunch of players new to Super 12, and having to cope with the departures of key figures including Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Pita Alatini and Kupu Vanisi.

"If you look at what we've got now, we have six All Blacks, only one player who hasn't played Super 12 and a lot more mature group," Cooper said.

"We've grown. We needed leaders to make sure the younger guys were being represented, making sure the game plan was being driven within the group, making sure off-field issues were being dealt with."

So step forward captain Tana Umaga and his seasoned band of lieutenants, hooker Andrew Hore, loose forwards Jerry Collins and Rodney So'oialo, prop Joe McDonnell and lock Paul Tito.

That group has one thing in common - they are grunt and groan men, not the fancy dans out the back.

If there has been one constant criticism through the Hurricanes life it's been that the rich flair among the backs has not been matched consistently enough by those charged with doing the hard yakka up front.

McDonnell provides experience in a young front row where Neemia Tialata and Tim Fairbrother will have learned from their experiences of last season.

Newcomer Jimmy Gopperth gets first crack in the No 10 jersey against the Reds tomorrow night. How he gels with halfback Piri Weepu will be important if the Hurricanes are to retain the exciting element to their rugby.

The Hurricanes have a difficult start - the heat of Brisbane being followed by a trip to the high veldt and the Cats followed by the Stormers at sea level in Cape Town - before a run of six home games in mid-season.

"I'm very big on the now and just getting on with the job," Cooper, in his second year in charge, said.

"I play for one week at a time. If you look ahead ... well, it's the toughest competition I've been involved with as a coach."

The Hurricanes have won their opening game in only two seasons, the last being in 2000.

But they are keen to show what they are capable of this season. They have the experience and if they can keep their heads they have a chance.

As always, it will be well worth watching.

VITAL STATS

Titles: 0

Finals: 0

Best finish: 3rd in 1997, 2003

Worst finish: 11th in 2004

Biggest win: 64-32, v Northern Bulls 1997

Biggest loss: 60-7, v Blues, 2002

Backs

Shannon Paku (Wellington)

Brent Ward (Auckland)

Lome Fa'atau (Wellington)

Hosea Gear (Wellington)

Ma'a Nonu (Wellington)

Tana Umaga (capt, Wellington)

Conrad Smith (Wellington)

Tane Tuipulotu (Wellington)

Jimmy Gopperth (Wellington)

Riki Flutey (Wellington)

Piri Weepu (Wellington)

Isaac Boss (Waikato)

Forwards:

Rodney So'oialo (Wellington)

Chris Masoe (Taranaki)

Ben Herring (Wellington)

Thomas Waldrom (Wellington)

Scott Waldrom (Wellington)

Jerry Collins (Wellington)

Kristian Ormsby (Wellington)

Ross Kennedy (Wellington)

Luke Andrews (Wellington)

Paul Tito (Taranaki)

Tim Fairbrother (Wellington)

Joe McDonnell (Wellington)

Tony Penn (Taranaki)

Neemia Tialata (Wellington)

Joe Ward (North Harbour)

Andrew Hore (Taranaki)