Aisle be back

Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. He has a season pass. Every year he predicts the Canes will win Super Rugby. He refuses to be called a long-suffering fan.

So, at about 53 minutes in, this wasn't what you signed up for, was it?

At least a few of the15,000+ fans at the Cake Tin on Good Friday would be new season pass holders. Or the lapsed. Welcome, welcome back.

And then there'd be the walk-ups fancying the no-name Kings would be leaking points and we’d see a tryfest.

And the other walk-ups who jumped on board late last season as we turned in the near perfect run in conference play. Looking for another taste of that.

So that first 20 minutes was pretty good. I think it was about 18 minutes in when the first error occurred. By that time, we'd had two tries from clinical and pretty ruthless application. This was looking like everything you might have expected.

But the old-timers in the crowd don't buy that. They know the Canes off-switch is pretty near the on-switch, and there you go, suddenly it's only a two point lead at halftime.

With 30 to go, you're just happy to see Beaudy collecting points in threes. To be honest, it will be a relief to get the four points for the win. Three opportunities for tries go begging, or are narrowly ruled out.

But then there's a late cracker in the corner. And you know, five whole minutes to score a fifth try and take the bonus point. We can do this. No we can't.

And then with no time, there's Beaudy dotting down from 50 metres out. And the stadium is roaring and a fair bit is forgiven. Because they're the crazy gang, and that's just the way it is.

So all you returnees, and newbies, strap yourself in and enjoy the insanity.

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You know they're playing a lot of rugby these days when the Kings' captain, Stephen Sykes, is announced as playing his 100th Super game. I'm sure he's a fine bloke, but honestly, I can't recall him ever. Obviously I am not anorak enough.

The Kings of course are treading the well-worn path of all new outfits. Although you'd fancy the Jaguares will be sterner stuff two weeks from now.

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I won't be mentioning The Bus. But what was the stadium thinking when it abbreviated the Kings on the scoreboard to Kgs – and Julian has to do a pre-match interview right underneath. I mean, come on, this pie-shaming of wingers has to stop.