Richard Loe: Canes paying for not being professional

Andrew Hore is congratulated by Piri Weepu. Photo / Getty Images

What's happened in the Hurricanes is, I think, down to a lack of balance in a few lives and a lack of professionalism.

Let's face it, there have been reports out of Wellington for years about divisions in the Hurricanes, cliques, factions ... whatever. There's been names like Ma'a Nonu, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane and others all mentioned in that context. It's a very Wellington thing. Maybe it's the proximity to the Beehive and our politicians.

But it goes deeper than that. I think a few players have forgotten how to behave and how to be a professional. Maybe some of them don't have enough to do in their lives.

All they do is train, play rugby, a bit of charity work and hang out. That's why they have been stuffing round with nonsense like Twitter - there's not enough going on in their lives to fulfil them, by the looks.

That's how, I believe, they have forgotten their professionalism and started taking on the coach rather than doing his bidding.

Now they've had a real shock and it's probably about time - although none of us can know how well this will work out.

The shame of it is that Nonu was winning the battle with Sonny Bill Williams. SBW had been in front for the All Blacks' starting position but I think Nonu was just beginning to hit the crest of his form.

But, again, there was a lack of professionalism. I'm not just talking about taking on the coach. It's other small things too. The way you dress may not be the be-all and end-all of your life as a professional - but it's a clear indication of how seriously you take things; of your respect for what you are doing and who you are representing.

Yet I see Andrew Hore turning up for training on a cold night wearing a crocheted hat and jandals. And he's the captain. Can you imagine Richie McCaw turning up in that get-up as Crusaders captain? Or Tana Umaga? He had dreads, sure, but he was always tidy.

Dress may be a small thing - but I think it points to larger matters and the state of some minds.

All right, Piri Weepu has had a broken leg and couldn't run for a long time - but he's had time to get into shape now and he's still porky. He's a Matt Dunning lookalike.

I'm a fan. I have said several times this season that Weepu would be my man in the starting XV for the All Blacks. He's that good. But when you see him and Nonu sloping off from training wearing jandals and hoodies and promoting that sort of 'gangsta' look, well, you wonder.

Both Hore and Nonu (and Weepu, for that matter) would be on well over $200,000- $250,000 a year. With that sort of money comes responsibility and some professionalism but you get the impression that what has been mostly seen behind the Hurricanes' closed doors is a bit of arrogance and ignorance.

Where has Rodney So'oialo been? He's on a big whack as well but all I've heard out of Wellington is that he's broken all the time and is now off to play in Japan. Maybe they needed him this year.

The reason I am being so hard on the players is that they simply haven't performed. They've kicked against what has been going down but their efforts to play their way haven't done the job.

On the way, their own form and reputations have suffered. Cory Jane has been a good All Black so far - a good runner and passer, and a guy who makes good decisions under pressure. But he has been sadly out of form through all this and he just looks sulky now his mates have been ditched. Time to grow up.

The one I feel most sorry for is Nonu, although I am quite sure he has been the architect of his own fall. He has been in increasingly good form and he is a seriously good player. It's not so much of a surprise about Hore - a 33-year-old hooker being moved on after a World Cup is not an enormous shock - but Nonu was starting to hit his straps.

What I'd do if I was him - and Hore - is to show Mark Hammett he's made a big mistake. I'd be wanting to play out of my skin for the rest of the Super season to show Hammett what he's losing.

Hore did a bit of that on Friday night and Nonu made a few breaks - but maybe they should have done more of that six to eight weeks ago.

However, now this has happened, you can see how wise Jamie Joseph was to take on the Highlanders. Maybe he figured the Hurricanes were a lemon and he chose to make an impact with a side he could improve.