Rugby: Ben Lam's emergence provides embarrassment of riches for Hurricanes

Ben Lam fends off a Rebels defender on his way to the line. Photo / Photosport

It's hard to fathom, but the All Black-laden Hurricanes backline has become even more potent, and they have one of rugby's surprise packages to thank for it.

Ben Lam became the first Hurricanes player to score four tries in a game in their 50-19 win over the Rebels on Friday night, moving him to a competition-leading eight for the season.

Perhaps having five current or former All Blacks in the same backline wasn't enough for the Hurricanes, who could soon add a sixth to their ranks if Lam keeps up his blistering start to the season.

It's an embarrassment of riches; especially considering the Hurricanes scored 89 tries last season. Chris Boyd's side averaged just under six tries and 40 points per game in 2017, and Lam's emergence has given them another threat in a backline brimming with danger.

It's an unusual path to relevance for the powerful winger. Typically, it takes a steady rise and incremental improvements to become an All Blacks contender, but Lam has jolted out of the blue at age 26 to put his name in the stacked race for a place in the outside backs.

All credit to the Hurricanes, who saw something others didn't, nabbing Lam away after just six appearances for the Blues, with the former sevens standout making the most of his first real run in Super Rugby.

If the first four games saw his talent bubble to the surface, his fifth in Melbourne hit boiling point, showing off his enticing mix of power, speed and anticipation as the Hurricanes stormed home with 42 unanswered points.

Sure, some of Lam's tries end with him as the benefactor of blistering attacks from his counterparts in Super Rugby's most devastating backline, but few wingers would have had the power to score his first try, nor the anticipation to notch his second.

Lam, the prototypical self-deflecting winger, credited those teammates for his good form.

"That experience they've got, and that good service, they know how to direct play, they know where the space is, they know when to kick, when to run, so they make it easy for me out wide."

The Hurricanes will soon have a logjam at the back, with Nehe Milner-Skudder set to return in the coming weeks.

At this rate, it could be Julian Savea as the odd man out, with Lam surely set for an extended run in the team, and potentially, higher honours.