Rugby: Hammett steers clear of 'culture shock' tag

Mark Hammett. Photo / APN

If there's a word under-pressure Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has grown tired of hearing, it's "culture".

"At times that word gets taken out of perspective because of where I've come from," the first-year head coach says. "When people talk about a 'culture' they're basically referring to the Crusaders because of what they have achieved down there."

Most prominent among the theories of armchair critics trying to pin down the reasons for the Hurricanes' horror start is that the players are suffering from culture shock; that the emphasis on the collective has made them fear expressing themselves as individuals. It's not something Hammett is buying into.

"Rather than culture, I'd rather talk about 'environment'. We're trying to create an environment of excellence, an environment where we're always learning and an environment we can all be proud of.

"It's not about the Crusaders. It wouldn't matter whether I came from Auckland, Hamilton or Dunedin. These are my beliefs and they would be the same if it was rugby, business or family."

If you were to sum up in two weeks those beliefs as they pertain to the Hurricanes right now, it would be "work" and "fun", and the two are not mutually exclusive.

Hammett has labelled the next three weeks, as his team travel to Canberra, Bloemfontein and Durban, a "mini-season". With the walls beginning to feel like they are closing in, the chance to leave Wellington and revel in each other's company is welcomed.

"When I say fun I don't mean going to the movies and eating out together," Hammett says. "I'm referring to it more like the fun you've had when you've completed a marathon. All that hard work that has gone into it leaves you with a sense of accomplishment."

After the Hurricanes' brutal loss to the Rebels, Hammett laid down the law in certain terms, capping his rocket with the line: "It's about putting our hands up, not our hands out."

It was a nice sentiment and last week in Napier he certainly got more determination and desire, with No 8 Victor Vito particularly impressive and flanker Jack Lam not far behind. There was only one thing standing between them and victory against the Bulls and it was a big one - skills on attack.

At times the Canes looked rudderless when they switched from defence to attack. Hammett has called for his team to be "crisper and sharper" from phase play and he has exchanged one struggling first five-eighth for another. Aaron Cruden has looked down on confidence this season but he has got the nod to start ahead of Daniel Kirkpatrick, who had been solid until a poor night with the boot against the Bulls let him down. As of last night it was still unclear as to whether fullback Cory Jane, who has been well below his best, would travel as he and his wife await the arrival of a child.

None of this makes Hammett's job any easier, though you won't catch him complaining.

So how does a coach who has come from an "environment" that has become a byword for success deal with the sudden sensation of failure? For a start, he says it's not that unfamiliar.

"In my first year in the All Blacks [1998] we lost five tests in a row.

"People tend to forget that first year at the Crusaders [1996] wasn't too good either," he says of the inaugural Super 12 which saw the red-and-blacks finish stone-cold last. "So I know what it feels like to go on bad runs and they're not nice. People would be lying if they said they were."

Take it for granted, there's not much room for lying in Hammett's environment.

TIME TO STEP UP

Tough times call for senior players, All Blacks no less, to stand up.

There's no great revelation there, but when you're performing like the Hurricanes are, the need becomes acute.

These three All Blacks, either past or present, could hold the key to the Hurricanes season.

Cory Jane

His impact could be limited in the immediate future as his wife is expecting their child.

The cruel could point out that if he was to miss a couple of games, it would not differ much from his recent form.

Jane has been subdued all year, with his biggest shots coming via Twitter when he blamed referee Stuart Dickinson for the schemozzle that was their opening match against Highlanders.

The 28-year-old fullback is nothing if not honest, so he will be acutely aware that he needs to do more to use his prodigious counter-attacking skills to make the Hurricanes once more a threat from deep.

For him it's not just the Hurricanes season under the microscope, but his World Cup place.

Jason Eaton

Admittedly the big lock played the last of his 15 tests on the end-of-year tour in 2009 and there have to be serious question marks as to whether he'll ever play another.

However, that does not detract from the fact he needs to be a bigger physical presence in this side, particularly at lineout and restart time. Eaton can be an enigmatic footballer. With his size and athleticism you would expect him to be able to take games by the scruff of the neck, but Eaton can appear too happy to play a bit-part role.

Eaton has not been playing badly, though a couple of costly mistakes in open play have been highlighted, but "not bad" is better read as "not enough".

Piri Weepu

Bit hard on the fella given that he's been nursing a broken leg since last year's ITM Cup, but the Hurricanes desperately need his game sense, they desperately need his goalkicking and they desperately need his leadership.

What they need more than anything is that when Weepu returns - and a date has not been set, though the April 30 clash with the Reds seems likely - he is fit enough to take a command role, either at halfback or first five-eighths, for 80 minutes.

You don't win championships if you don't have quality players in the pivotal inside back positions, another area of deficiency this season.