Hurricanes' underrated depth will see team through to six

The Hurricanes head into the Investec Super Rugby season with a squad capable of challenging for the playoffs. There have been a number of good off season signings especially in Marty Banks, Cardiff Vaega and Hadleigh Parkes (pictured above with ball in hand last Friday against the Crusaders).

Banks was the form player in the 2013 ITM Cup. Even though he has a slightly lean frame, the former Buller representative found his feet running the cutter for the Makos and with an eye for both gap and tryline, he will be back-up to Beauden Barrett at first five-eighth as well as a fullback. Banks was quickly into his work as a Hurricane two Saturdays ago in Masterton, racing away to score an 80-metre try that had Blues defenders chasing dust.

Hadleigh Parkes is a consistent second five-eighth in the mould of Crusader Ryan Crotty. He rarely misses a tackle and is defensively sound, which is what the Canes will need to be after leaking many tries over the past two seasons. Parkes is an experienced player, and as well as playing for both Manawatu and Auckland in ITM Cup rugby he spent all of last season playing for the Kings in South Africa.

Former Kelston Boys’ High School star Cardiff Vaega will be dynamic at midfield this season if he comes off the bench. Son of To’o, Vaega easily fits the role of physical second five eighth which occurred when Rey Lee-Lo (now at the Crusaders) made cameos towards the back end of 2013 as well as Ma’a Nonu who is now at the Blues.

There have been good noises made about the forward pack as well. Blade Thomson from Taranaki provided the most carries and metres in the ITM Cup. Loose Forward Thomson is a hard grafter who throws himself into the fray especially at ruck and maul time and was Taranaki’s ITM Cup Player of the Year last year. He should make a few appearances due to Vito and Shields being in the hospital ward for 6 – 8 weeks with knee injuries.

A former Cantabrian, Mark Abbot has been selected primarily on work ethic. Abbot is a hard grafter who is reliable at lineout time and he impressed with a strong workmanlike match last Friday against the Crusaders in Levin. Veteran John Schwalger returns after a two year stint in Agen, France. He will provide depth in the propping stocks after the loss of Ben May to Japan. He also knows what it’s like to experience finals footy, having played for the Hurricanes back in 2006 when they made the final.

In fact, the Hurricanes haven’t made the semi-finals or playoffs since 2009, so are long overdue. They’ve got a tough opener against the Sharks who were strong last week in the South African season opener and bullied the Bulls 31-16. After that they move on to Cape Town to play the Stormers who have been renowned for their tough defence in recent seasons. The last time the Hurricanes won in round one was in 2010. They've lost their last three season openers, in 2011 (14-9 to the Highlanders), 2012 (39-26　to the Stormers)　and 2013 (30-24 to the Blues).

I think this year the Hurricanes will come sixth? overall. To make the?playoffs,?? the Hurricanes would need to win at least 10 games. But to do so the Hurricanes need to stop leaking soft tries. Therefore defence is a big focus in 2014. A win in South Africa would be helpful to kick-start the campaign as the Sharks and Stormers are tough to beat at home. The Hurricanes last took on the Sharks in Durban in 2011 where they lost 40 – 27. The first home game at the Cake Tin is against the Brumbies on Friday 7 March at 7:30pm.