Richard Loe: Something is not quite right with the Canes

The Hurricanes were brave in their loss to the Bulls after six changes - including dropping three All Blacks - but the loss shows the franchise might be in a bit of strife right now.

They started out as table-toppers but their fall highlights yet again that they might promise a great deal but seldom live up to it.

They are a talented side but the step to the title always seems just that little bit beyond them. This season is coach Colin Cooper's last and a farewell season can often be the time sides step up - there's often an emotional element and, more practically, players are trying to impress the next bloke.

I've known Colin since junior rugby and he's a nice man. But you have to wonder about the Hurricanes' record under him and the tactic of dropping so many first-teamers after the loss to the Stormers.

You also have to wonder about his inability - and that of all New Zealand franchises - to employ and defend against the rolling maul; which the Bulls used well to win and crack the Canes' discipline.

Generally speaking, I am not in favour of wholesale changes like the ones Cooper made for the Bulls game. I don't think it normally does anything for a side - although I have to say Tyson Keats had a fine, industrious game at halfback and Piri Weepu didn't make a difference when he came on.

Colin said he wanted to get the "performance off the bench." Well, I've got a better idea - get the performance out of those on the field. Dropped were Weepu, lock Bryn Evans, flanker Scott Waldrom, winger David Smith - Super 14's equal leading try-scorer before this weekend - and prop Jacob Ellison, while fullback Corey Jane was crocked.

Clearance sales like that always raise thoughts all is not well within a team but, again, I have to say the Canes played well until the Bulls put the squeeze on with the rolling maul. Victor Vito's yellow carding for being penalised at the maul and then gobbing off at the ref showed the pressure they were under.

I think Karl Lowe is a better player than Waldrom anyway (I picked him for my All Black touring team at the end of last year) and Jeremy Thrush did very well against the Bulls. But Jacob Ellison did nothing and Smith's replacement seemed to drop everything that came his way and, when he came on, so did Smith. The selections almost came off but it all felt a little bit desperate.

Colin did very well when he was assistant coach under Robbie Deans at the Crusaders. Robbie is a very strong-willed man but he built a culture at the Crusaders that franchises like the Blues and Hurricanes struggle to copy.

I heard Ali Williams say once that the difference between the Blues and Crusaders was that, at Blues' training, the coach would say: 'Here's the game plan.' Half the team wouldn't agree with it but wouldn't say anything and they'd head into the game without being really unified.

At the Crusaders, the coach would say: 'Here's the game plan' and those who didn't agree would stick up their hands and say so. Then it would be discussed. It might end up that Robbie told them to do as he was saying anyway but it had been discussed. Then everyone was on the same page and had the right attitude.

There was also odd thinking when the Highlanders stood down Adam Thomson and Michael Hobbs against the Bulls for breaching team protocols. I was told it was the new way; players judged by their peers.

Well, I think we can chuck all that new age, PC guff. Why not hit the bastards in the pocket if they are doing wrong?

Why stop them from playing? They're professionals - we pay them to play. They're also key players. Drop them and chances of a win drop too. The Bulls won. Great.

The Hurricanes have always had a group of players, going right back to the Tana Umaga and Jerry Collins days, who were excellent but there was always the hint of a discipline problem within the side. I might be wrong - but the Hurricanes still feel like that. Something's not quite right.

They're not out of it yet, of course, and their play against the Bulls showed they can win - and that the Bulls can be beaten. Skipper Andrew Hore might have been penalised a bit but he was a tower of strength in the rucks and mauls and really got in there and contested. Subbing him off was ridiculous and Dane Coles didn't bring anything extra.

You get the feeling the Hurricanes have played most, if not all, of their selection cards.

What is left is a coaching and man management job to get all that talent firing - and knowing what to do with a rolling maul.