Hurricanes 2023
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@Stargazer I might be going just waiting on a mate to confirm and if they announce it I’ll post it up
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@Canes4life Didn’t end up going was hoping someone here had been and given us an update.
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Ex-Bok and a Lion the final pieces in Scarlets' coaching ticket
The Scarlets have confirmed their coaching lineup for the upcoming 2023-24 season, featuring some notable additions to the team.
Ben Franks to replace Gibbes as forwards coach possibly?
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@kiwi_expat Could very well I just hope we don’t keep Jane on I loved him as a player but not a coach.
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So the season ends again in Canberra after so much promise. I feel like that game optimised the Canes season but ultimately Holland will end his tenure with the club achieving no success at all.
I’d probably give the boys a B- overall and I’d award the following accolades to the following players:
MVP: Cam Roigard: what a season from the young halfback. He’s got a massive future in NZ rugby and may have played himself into the WC squad. We will have to wait and see.
Rookie of the season: Harry Godfrey. Only played a few games but showed he definitely has what it takes at Super level. Let’s hope we see more of him next year.
Forward of the year: Tyrel Lomax: a picture of consistency and he continues to be the anchor for us at set piece. Hopefully he continues that form into the WC.
Back of the year (aside from Roigard): Billy Proctor: another player that was consistent for most of the year. He probably had a night to forget last night but for the most part he was one of our best in every game he played in 2023.
Disappointment of the year: Jordie Barrett: he really didn’t step up this year like many thought he would (including me). By now Jordie Barrett should be one of the senior players barking orders but he just seems to look like a player that lacks confidence. Maybe he needs to make a shift back to fullback where he can use his height and kicking game more effectively.
Outlook for 2024:
The Canes won’t have Dane Coles and Ardie Savea in 2024 but there’s a strong likelihood that most of the roster will be there again next year, unlike many of their rivals. This alone will give them plenty of momentum going into next season and with a new coach in Clark Laidlaw, hopefully the Canes can go up a gear or two.
Players that are likely leaving:
Dane Coles (retiring)
Ardie Savea (Japan - will be back in 2025)
Question marks over Owen Franks, James Blackwell, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea, Reed Prinsep, Dominic Bird, Peter Umaga-Jensen and a few more.Incoming players:
Brad Shields
Harry Godfrey (full contract)
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2023:
So the season ends again in Canberra after so much promise. I feel like that game optimised the Canes season but ultimately Holland will end his tenure with the club achieving no success at all.
Jason Holland shouldn't be in the All Blacks coaching group, under his guidance the Hurricanes have been the worst flat-track bullies I've ever seen, frustratingly while his attack can unlock the porous defense of minnows like Moana Pacifica, Force etc.. without fail every single year his immensely talented & dynamic backline consistently fail to execute and find space against quality sides when it counts.
Endless pick and goes followed by shoveling side to side 84 minutes into extra time, endless opportunities to score throughout the game and still couldn't get the ball into the obvious space when it mattered.
Scott Hansen is clearly the best attack coach in NZ, he always comes up with an astute plan and finds innovative solutions in big matches to unlock the defenses of the top teams.
Taimati Ellison lead Wellington to their first trophy in 22 years, he's had incredible reviews at the Crusaders since he joined, he is considered one of the best young coaches in NZ, a former All Black centre, he offers the experience of numerous high performance environments at the top level (AB's, NZ Maori, AB 7's, Hurricanes, etc..)
Hansen, McDonald, Ryan, Ellison - defense. What could've been.
Holland continues to deliver mediocrity and is rewarded with a breezy All Black gig, this doesn't sit right with me at all, it has set a bad precedent.
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@kiwi_expat Ellison is the head coach this year (not last). See how he goes . He's certainly rated highly.
He's likely better off getting head coaching experience first than being pushed into an AB role
Re Holland. He role with the ABs seem to be quite limited. Hopefully it is
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@kiwi_expat said in Hurricanes 2023:
his attack can unlock the porous defense of minnows like Moana Pacifica, Force etc.. without fail every single year
You have not done much research before making the above comment as Mr. Holland's Hurricanes failed to unlock the "porous defence" of Moana Pasifika to any great degree in the Moana Pasifika 24 - 19 win at Mt. Smart last season.
Moana Pasifika stun Hurricanes in extra-time to secure first-ever win
After weeks of Covid uncertainty and season-opening drubbings, Moana Pasifika are finally on the board in Super Rugby Pacific.
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Winger Yeah, Holland will be the assistant of the assistant (MacDonald). I trust Razor's judgement in chosing his assistants. I think Holland will be fine in that role. It's as a Head Coach that he's limited.
Razor said in the article he wants each of his assistants to be heavily involved, clearly all his assistants will contribute in some way towards strategy, tactics, selection & will certainly get the opportunity to offer their opinions and contribute in areas they aren't designated.
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@Higgins canes also lost to the force last year. Also FD this year. Yet beat the Crusaders and Brumbies this year. Won 2 but lost 5 against the top 4 teams
A limited coach but not awful. In some ways a terrible coach to have. Won't be fired by a team like the canes but will never achieve much
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@Winger Holland's been with the Hurricanes for 8 seasons and they have continued to decline since his first year in 2016, the fact remains he's always had one of the best backlines in NZ to work with (if not the best), it's not like Browny's inventiveness at the Highlanders from 2014-2017 or Roger Randle steadily building a lethal multiple threat attack at the Chiefs after inheriting the basket case backline of 2020, he's never had to drag the most out of a limited group.
The Hurricanes have always had among the best attacking players & strongest dynamic ball-runners in NZ (typically of Pacifica & Maori decent) coming through since 2016, that's been a constant since he arrived, the individual brilliance of Perenara, Barrett's, Laumape, Savea, Coles, etc.. have saved many games for Holland.
I'm still unconvinced that he's a decent coach, he was criticized on Munster forums for the lackluster attack over his 4 years as backs coach and also oversaw some pretty unproductive periods for Canterbury in 2013 and 2014, where tries scored were notably down compared to before his tenure (2008-2012) and after (2015-2018).
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Winger Yeah, Holland will be the assistant of the assistant (MacDonald). I trust Razor's judgement in chosing his assistants. I think Holland will be fine in that role. It's as a Head Coach that he's limited.
I really want to emphasize that just because Razor rates Holland it still doesn't mean he's any good, everyone invariably has biases, it's just human nature, Razor also considers Rob Penney very highly when the accounts of former NZ U20 players and also Tahs players is quite damming indeed. Remember how Hansen raved over the abilities of his good mate Fozzie...?
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The pile on with Holland is harsh.
The Hurricanes consistently have had a strong attack under Holland and have done well with usually an underpowered forward pack and a limited 10.
The Canes set piece attack has been consistently strong - i'm excited to see what he can do under Razor
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Classic yarns with the retiring Dane Coles. Funny that he almost joined the Landers.
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@kiwi_expat this is mostly rubbish. He has had some good attacking players, but definitely 4th of the 5 NZ teams. I think there has been a fair bit of exaggeration about how bad the Hurricanes have been this year and for very small margins they'd be in the semis.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2023:
Classic yarns with the retiring Dane Coles. Funny that he almost joined the Landers.
Better than the usual stuff from Sky. Wheeler was good too apart from the awkward fluffing at the end
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@TJ said in Hurricanes 2023:
@kiwi_expat this is mostly rubbish. He has had some good attacking players, but definitely 4th of the 5 NZ teams. I think there has been a fair bit of exaggeration about how bad the Hurricanes have been this year and for very small margins they'd be in the semis.
But once again they aren't (in the semis). That's the issue. I'd like to compete with the best not just make up the numbers. My view is the players are good enough to do much better. And at the end we had few injuries yet we still failed.
