Ma'a Nonu out – Hurricanes casualty list grows.
Wellington – The Hurricanes added two All Blacks to their growing casualty list, as the six-time top four finishers contemplate what could become their worst season.
The Wellington-based franchise is now sitting 13th on the table, only above the Cheetahs and the Lions.
According to the allblacks.com website, six losses mean that they are two defeats away from their worst ever return in Vodacom Super Rugby, with the Hurricanes losing eight in 1996 and seven in 2007.
Injuries to Ma’a Nonu (eye), Cory Jane (hamstring) and Serge Lilo (ankle) mean that the Hurricanes injury toll – Karl Lowe (knee), Rodney So’oialo (lower back), Conrad Smith (broken nose) and Aaron Cruden (Achilles) are also out – is the last thing that Mark Hammett needs.
The former Crusaders assistant coach and Hurricanes boss said that his team were their own worst enemies.
“A lot of teams are beating us through our simple mistakes,” Hammett said.
“We drop a kick-off, throw an intercept pass and then get a yellow card near full-time, that didn’t help did it.”
Also lamenting a disorganised defence, Hammett said that his men also didn’t appear to have the confidence a winning team required.
“The confidence may have lacked a bit when it was 24-18 where instead of saying we can put them to the sword now maybe they were thinking let’s protect the lead.”
The Hurricanes, hosting the Reds this week, will celebrate captain Andrew Hore’s 100th Super Rugby game.
Related Posts
« Clash of the Titans: Lomu vs. Sonny Bill O'Driscoll sidesteps wedding »
