Hurricanes: Platform required for ABs-laden backline

What happened last year?

The four-year coaching reign of Mark Hammett came to an end as he led them to seventh place and they missed the playoffs. Inconsistency cost them, regularly losing games they should have won. They also lacked cut and thrust in the midfield and grunt in the tight five, aside from hooker Dane Coles. The ingredients were there during the Hammett years - it just never came together.

Strengths and opportunities in 2015

The backline. Every player in their preferred starting backline is an All Black, except whoever wears the No 15 jersey. With the likes of TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett and Julian Savea, the Hurricanes should be full of highlight-reel plays. Midfielders Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu are going to suit up one last time for a final fling in yellow and black. Their loose forward unit is also packed with talent, with all eyes on whether Ardie Savea will come of age this season.

Where they might be vulnerable?

Up front. Lock Jeremy Thrush is out for the first four to six weeks of the competition with a calf injury and their second-row stocks look mighty thin after that. Their starting front row is laden with All Blacks but if you scratch beneath the surface there's little back-up. This is not a new problem with the Canes but the heat will be on assistant coach John Plumtree, who is vastly experienced, to get the forwards firing. There is also uncertainty off the field at Hurricanes HQ with a new governance structure set to arrive at Wellington Rugby, which owns a 50 per cent stake in the franchise.

Which player will give them X-factor?

Blade Thomson is starting to show signs of being something special. He has been dominant at provincial level for Taranaki for the past few years and it's now time for the 1.98m forward to take his game to the next tier. Adept at either blindside flanker, No8 or lock, the 24-year-old is a potential World Cup bolter, given he covers a range of positions and has a deft touch for a big man. He has improved as a ball-runner and has a big engine.

Where will they finish and why?

In the middle of the pack. Why? Because they're the Hurricanes. The Wellington-based franchise have specialised in mediocrity for the past few years and they haven't made the playoffs since 2009. Second-five Nonu is a wild card in their side. He could inspire or simply make up the numbers as he awaits the World Cup. When the All Blacks require their prescribed rest, their depth will be tested. Coach Chris Boyd has a tough job on his hands to try to find the formula to get this side over the hump in the tight games. Six of their eight losses last season came by nine points or less. This season, they need to deliver at crunch time.