Rugby: Results so far show Hurricanes forwards doing the job

The Hurricanes will need to be at their technical best against the Waratahs. Photo / Getty Images

The lament has piggy-backed the Hurricanes for some time. You know the one.

Something like if they had a strong set-piece, their backline had enough class to cut others to pieces ...

That proviso hung around the franchise even when they had men like Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Jason Eaton, Jerry Collins, Chris Masoe and Rodney So'oialo in their pack.

This season they've won all seven of their games with incumbent All Black hooker Dane Coles and sometime squad members Ben Franks, Victor Vito and Jeremy Thrush.

That tally does not match the international forward riches at the Crusaders, Blues and Chiefs but they have got the job done and their backline has prospered.

Now the Waratahs are in the frame, the next foe to try to take down the Hurricanes on Saturday at the Cake Tin.

The visitors fancy their muscle and former Pumas hooker and scrum coach Mario Ledesma has been ramping up the players' technique and belief.

"As a pack, he has helped us a lot," massive lock Will Skelton told the Australian. "He has brought a different mentality. He is trying to help us get in the zone to win scrums and get results from scrums rather than just being competent and holding scrums."

While Skelton believes they have made progress, competition statistics tell a different story with the Hurricanes holding a 92 per cent scrum success rate compared to the Waratahs' scrums at 84 per cent.

It's a strong response from the Hurricanes pack in their first year with coach Chris Boyd and assistant John Plumtree.

This weekend they will need to be at their technical best to hold the Tahs pack which will be full of internationals if Tatafu Polota Nau starts at hooker.

The Canes are still without the injured Coles, Vito and Ardie Savea but will back their all-round game and impressive results at the breakdown to apply the pressure to the defending Super rugby champions.

An unknown factor will be how the Canes front after their bye and how the Waratahs bounce back after being dusted by the Stormers last round.

The Canes backline is caked in test caps and their forwards have been doing the business for that talented array.

If Blade Thomson comes in for the injured Vito, the pack might be Reggie Goodes, Motu Matu'u, Ben Franks, Jeremy Thrush, James Broadhurst, Brad Shields, Callum Gibbins and Thomson. Try telling them they can't do the business when they have seen off the Lions, Bulls, Force, Blues, Highlanders, Rebels and Stormers. It's a record every other NZ franchise envies.