Richard Loe: Boyd a welcome surprise for the Hurricanes

Chris Boyd. Photo / Getty Images

Straight up — Chris Boyd has surprised me.

Things looked fairly awful at the Wellington Lions last year when he was in charge and no better with his other team — the New Zealand under-20s.

There were a lot of people who were predicting that he'd struggle with the Hurricanes, but it hasn't happened at all.

I think the introduction of John Plumtree to the coaching staff has no doubt been a big factor but whether it is Boyd or Plumtree — or a combination of the two — they have done remarkably well so far.

What they have been able to do is convince a lot of players to believe in themselves. Take the likes of Reggie Goodes and Mark Abbott. The former scored a try against the Highlanders on Friday night when he followed the ball, was fully involved in the build-up — doing his share of the work — before he got himself into a good position behind TJ Perenara.

When the ball was there, he got himself low and drove with a dynamic, low body position and no one was going to stop him. If the try line had been another 4m away, I think he would still have got there.

Abbott is another who has stepped up. Forget about names and past history. On form so far this season, he probably gets the tick at lock for the Hurricanes. He's done everything asked of him.

That's a huge part of being successful in this tournament — driving everything out of those players who are not the regular starters.

It's what the Chiefs do so well. They make changes and persuade the player coming in that he's good enough to be there and to give all he's got.

It means they don't lose momentum and the pressure then goes on the bigger-name players to deliver when they return to the team.

It's also been noticeable that the senior players at the Hurricanes have been full of energy and in good form. I would imagine that, for the likes of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, it's hugely important to them that they finish their time in New Zealand well. They could probably win every other game between now and the end of the season and satisfy themselves that they have finished well. But they will want more than that and their leadership and experience is going to be paramount as the season develops.

I'd have to say I've been one of those people who has been waiting for the Hurricanes' bubble to burst. Maybe not now. They will lose a game or two at some stage but they look like they have the personnel to stay in the hunt.

If they can keep everyone fit and healthy, continue to get the best out of the likes of Cory Jane and Julian Savea and be guided well by Perenara and Beauden Barrett then they will give themselves a chance.