KEY POINTS:
If any team had a right to be miffed at last year's reconditioning debacle, it was the Hurricanes.
Two years ago the Wellington-based franchise seemed on the verge of catching up with the Crusaders. With a revamped gameplan that appeared modelled on the southern superpower - their usual flighty nonsense was replaced by defensive intensity and an adherence to percentage rugby - they made it all the way to the final.
Looking back now, the day before the fog rolled in to blanket Christchurch and hide a 19-12 Crusaders victory from prying eyes was really the last time the sun shone upon the Hurricanes.
The Canterbury pea-souper that robbed them of a proper shot at the title was to prove a fitting metaphor for what was to follow. Instead of having a chance to build on the best season in franchise history, the 2007 team had its guts, not to mention its spine, ripped out.
Gone for the opening eight rounds was the entire All Black loose forward trio of Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Chris Masoe. Also absent with leave were top lock Jason Eaton, hooker Andrew Hore and halfback Piri Weepu.
The impact was immediate. A team that had gone 10-3 a season earlier promptly lost its first game to the Queensland Reds. Putting that result in perspective, the Reds won just one more game all season.
A run of three scratchy victories suggested the Canes might have had the resources to cope with their losses but they hit the skids with a horrible home defeat by the Stormers in round five. Three more losses in a row to the Western Force, Sharks and Lions saw them drift off the pace and out of contention well before the first frosts had hit the ground.
For the record, Eaton and Weepu never made it to France; Hore and Masoe were peripheral figures at best; and Collins and So'oialo played pretty okay.
Fast forward to this weekend and the Hurricanes are back in familiar territory, needing to bounce back from a sub-par season, the self-belief from their 2006 campaign having long since evaporated. This time, however, Colin Cooper won't be coaching with both hands tied behind his back. All six of the "protected" All Blacks are back. There is a veteran look to this year's side with Hawkes Bay's boom teenage winger Zac Guildford, prop Jacob Ellison and flanker Michael Johnson the only uncapped players.
As usual, though, the biggest question mark over the team will be the crucial first five-eighths role. Jimmy Gopperth had his moments last season. Some of them were so awful that Cooper dumped him for Southland pivot Blair Stewart and then opted to convert Weepu from halfback rather than bring him back.
This year's back-up option, Willie Ripia, struggled for consistency for Waikato in last year's NPC and there wouldn't have been too many tears shed in Mooloo country when he transferred to Taranaki.
First five-eighths aside, the backline looks as strong as ever. The mercurial Ma'a Nonu, fleet-footed Conrad Smith and standout Wellington captain Tamati Ellison will compete for spots in the midfield; there is plenty of gas out wide in the form of Guildford and Hosea Gear; and Cory Jane is a will-o'-the-wisp figure at fullback.
The depth is there too, with the likes of Shannon Paku and Tane Tu'ipulotu and Alby Mathewson hovering in the background.
The front row has been another area of traditional weakness for the Hurricanes, but not when Neemia Tialata is around to anchor the scrum. The jury is still well and truly out on John Schwalger, who has been charged with being a bit soft after crumbling against Hawkes Bay last year, but Tim Fairbrother's return after two years blighted by injury should add more starch up front.
Eaton's return adds a good dose of mobility to the middle row, while Jeremy Thrush is coming off an outstanding national championship.
The draw has not been overly kind, with a horror run of Brumbies in Canberra in round five followed by home games against the Crusaders and Sharks before a three-match tour of South Africa.
Last year that schedule would have been a death sentence. This year, the Hurricanes should have the tools to deal with it. Expect them to contend.
