I still reckon that for his age, he's one of the best props I have ever seen. Most props don't get comfortable at S15 level till their 2nd or 3rd season at the earliest. He's got future AB stamped all over him.

Future AB might be over-doing it but he clearly has potential, I don't question that. However Reg Goodes is a much better player right now and should be selected in front of the youngster.

Yup, Goodes and May with Toomaga-Allen coming off the bench to gain experience.

I just think Toomaga-Allen is too young at the moment. He'll get better as he gets stronger / older.

For all the shit people are flinging at the Canes forwards I think, given the massive loss of experience with Tialata and Schwalger going, they are doing alright. Toomaga-Allen right now is at least as good as fat John. It'd be nice to get Tialata back but I think Goodes could well eclipse him soon.

Only one of them's incontinent.

There's a subtle pun there to indicate who it is.

His agent needs to negotiate an exit strategy. Fairly basic stuff. What are you? A bin man?

First and foremost, isn't it amazing how much AC posts on Hurricanes threads! He's obsessed I tell you, obsessed!

Secondly, Nonu without Smith doesn't work nearly as well as Smith without Nonu.

Thirdly, Dane Coles is probably the form hooker in NZ Super Rugby. Rename the award please, possibly, The Pat Lam award?

Finally, with the exception of the Blues, aren't the Kiwi sides doing well!

Agreed, too much praise heaped on Hammett because we're avoiding the bottom of the table. The team is not playing good rugby. Hammett's lucky the Blue's are so shit this season, it's removed all the attention from him and any team looks decent next to the Blues.

Little harsh aren't we? A win next weekend against a Highlanders side returning from South Africa could have the Canes up to 3rd in the conference, and up to 7th if we can safely assume the Sharks will get past the Force. There's not a lot in this you know, and the Hurricanes are still a team in contention at this stage of the competition. Granted, they will have to play out of their skins to make the playoff, but they are still in with a chance.

That's my point, we're being blinded by results. This Hurricanes squad has performed massively above expectation but I honestly believe that is more down to a desire to prove everybody wrong and, more importantly, individual brilliance among the backs. I think Hammett's coaching has had little to do with it. There has been nothing to convince me that the Hurricanes are a well coached side, any better than they were under Colin Cooper. How many games are we struggling on 30% possession only to be saved by some Taylor-magic?

I haven't written him off yet, but I'm judging him on how the Hurricanes are playing as a team, and I don't like it.

I have had three seperate chats with some of the hurricanes this year, and they say the management, coaching and team structures are far better than they were last year. There is a strong team culture from the coach down, and a desire to put the team first that was lacking last year, which Hammett has had no small part in instilling. Hammett was first to put his hand up in saying the way things were handled last year was not good and that he has also learned from the experience. Look what has happened this year.

Cory Jane resigned with the Canes for a further 2 years.

Piri Weepu wants to come home (and it will happen).

Savea is a new player after last years sad effort.

Dane Coles is playing to his full potential.

Perenara is a revelation

Andre Taylor is being compared to Christian Cullen now that he is realising his potential

Levave is having his best season ever.

To summarise, Hammett got rid of the players he didn't want, and is getting results. He lost some players he would have rather kept, but this year is far better than last. They have already won as many games this year as they have all season, and are still a shot at playoff contention. They are a work in progress, but they are progressing.

To be honest, I think that happens most years....

My england....is good yes?

I don't see the facination with Goodes. He is just as young and has even less experience than Jafa now. It is obvious that Jafa still has a lot to work on in the scrums but it's not excatly getting smashed either. Jafa's work rate around the field has been very excellent. Saying he isn't up to it is dead wrong.

Why compare to last year? You're simply comparing a mediocre Hammett year with a poor Hammett year. Why not compare to 2010 when they were no worse, or even Cooper's entire reign where they rarely ended up outside the top four?

Don't be too comfortable accepting mediocrity in the name of "improvement" that's the road the Blues went down look where it got them, the Wallabies too were big on "improvement" and rising youngsters and how'd the world cup work out from them?

Part of why the All Blacks are so good is that mediocre results and seasons are rarely tolerated, especially for long. Auckland used to be like that too, immense internal pressure and fear of losing, look where accepting mediocrity has got them.

Like all Canes threads, this is at risk of descending into a discussion where Hammetts coaching abilities are either all good or all bad.

If he acknowledges he fucked up with the way things were handled last year, fine. I am also critical of his recruitment. But that is only part of his job.

That aside, I am happy with the way he has the team playing (yes the forwards are not getting much ball but then he doesn't have the cattle because of the earlier problems).

BT - I'm not sure that anyone is accepting mediocrity, I think we are just looking towards building a strong team, if the Hurricanes finish third in the NZ conference is that accepting mediocrity?

Alta - Given that I'm one of those supporting Hammett let me just say I never think everything he does is perfect, clearly he could have and should have dealt with some situations last year better. If he had perhaps we wouldn't have lost the likes of Crosswell, Gear and a few others. In the end though I tend to think a lot of the pain of last year has worked out ok in the end.

I am getting sick of all the rubbish about Nonu. He's playing damn well for someone who is a in a shit team, amazing how the Aucks are blaming everyone except their own players... Nonu seems to be the only tackler with intent in the blues backline and he keeps on setting up his outsides for no reward... as the hopeless aucks drop the ball or just fall over in despair.

Check out Smith's missed tackle count - so who needs who?

Without wanting to be argumentative, you're the only person I've seen on this forum who has said Nonu is playing "damn well".

And how the hell is he setting up his outside backs? The Blues backline has remained completely dysfunctional all season. Nonu is not making the advantage line, making line breaks or creating line break assists, scoring tries or setting up tries. I can't think of a no.12 in NZ who is playing worse than Nonu right now.

Now that Treeby's out, it looks like the Highlanders might be stuck with Phil Burleigh. Shirley he'd be the worst Kiwi S15 second five?

FFS Blues.. Losing TWICE to the same fcuking queers.

FFS!

I cant think of a no 12 who is playing behind a worse forward pack right now! Luckily i can remember when he was getting caned last year, ironically behind the canes, but when he was given the black jersey and some front foot ball he caused carnage. From memory played 3 tests against australia in 2011 and Nonu scored a try in all 3 of them.

Surely that would mean that you would love them fa'a.

Scoring a few tries doesn't mean he caused carnage, only one of those required him to beat a defender and even that one he just spun around and found a huge hole back towards the ruck. He was pretty average overall.

reported for hate crimes, you fat fucking fa'a fucking fat fa'a!