Umaga says Hurricanes campaign is on track

Tana Umaga

There's no secret rugby recipe behind the Hurricanes' improvement this year says veteran Tana Umaga, believing old fashioned maturity and longevity have carried them to a first final.

Umaga was perhaps the happiest Hurricane when his team qualified for Saturday's Super 14 final against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

A foundation member of the side in 1996, Umaga has been part of numerous Super 12 campaigns which foundered for a myriad of reasons.

He said coach Colin Cooper's faith in a core of players over the past few seasons has borne fruit this year.

"Three or four years is a long time in this profession," he said, explaining why his team have won 11 of their 14 games, including last weekend's nailbiting semifinal against the New South Wales Waratahs.

"The maturity of the guys ... and the depth that we have and the belief.

"And you can't take away that 11 of us went on the end of year tour with the All Blacks.

"These guys that were there, they can understand the international level they've played at and they've brought that back here."

Umaga was replaced this year as captain by No 8 Rodney So'oialo and he said the Hurricanes forwards had made enormous strides. Gone was the lack of discipline that had marred previous seasons.

"I think they've spoken for themselves, the way they've performed," he said.

"Even though some things haven't gone right, they haven't lost their composure in tight matches, they've stuck to it.

"That's probably a difference. Usually, if things were going backwards then guys would become more individualistic."

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans admitted the Hurricanes had gradually morphed into a quality outfit under Cooper, boosted by a growing list of international class players.

"If you look at the All Blacks of last year, they've got more current internationals than us," he said.

"And they've had a significant amount of playoff experience (reaching the semifinals) in three of the last four years, and that's all valuable."

There has been a timely gelling in the combination between Umaga and midfield partner Ma'a Nonu, with the pair a constant threat in the twin defeats of the Waratahs this month.

Umaga said his shift out one place to centre and Nonu's in to second five-eighth for those matches had paid off although he wouldn't say if it would stay that way for the final.

Nonu appeared to be in doubt when a hamstring injury forced him out of the second half of training yesterday.

However, Cooper said the rest was precautionary and that his chief line-breaker was in no doubt for Saturday.

Meanwhile, the final was cast in a new light when Crusaders fullback Leon MacDonald suggested the final might be Umaga's Hurricanes swansong, to follow his All Blacks retirement earlier this year.

"It could be Tana's last game so it will be an emotional game for him as well," MacDonald said.

However, Umaga, who turns 33 on day of final, has given no suggestion this is his last season for the franchise.

He said birthday celebrations would be far from his mind when he runs onto Jade Stadium.

"I stopped celebrating birthdays once I had my first child when I was 20. I don't like to be reminded of them all the time but it seems to be the way these days," he said.

For Umaga, a Super 14 title would rate in the "top five per cent" of his career achievements.

- NZPA