Grant Shimmin
Don’t go wasting that money you were going to put down on the Cats or the Sharks to win the Super 12 this year. The Hurricanes are going to step in and extend the Kiwi domination of the tournament in the closing weeks. At least that’s the opinion of one Doug Golightly. If you haven’t heard of him, don’t feel lonely … I’m pretty sure not too many people know him outside New Zealand. Doug’s claim to fame is that he writes the sport for a tabloid newspaper and occasionally appears on radio or television to talk sport.
It was during a breakfast show appearance on the latter medium this week that he made the bold prediction, which could be derailed on Friday morning (South African time) when the Hurricanes face the Chiefs at the WestpacTrust stadium (known as the “cake tin”) in the Kiwi capital. It started from an entirely plausible premise, which was that the Brumbies, with a game in hand over the Cats and Sharks, would finish top of the table, as they did last year. Fair enough, but Golightly went on to say the Hurricanes would beat the Brumbies at Bruce stadium in Canberra and then overcome the winners of a Cats-Sharks semi in South Africa. (“The Sharks aren’t that flash”, “Laurie’s Cats are one-dimensional” were a couple of his throwaway lines.)
While a run like that would certainly shake off the reputation the talent-packed Hurricanes side has earned as under-achievers, it seems most who follow the tournament in New Zealand (and who doesn’t?) are using Doug’s surname as a guide when considering how seriously to take his forecast. He’s also one of a few who hold the view that Hurricanes flyhalf David Holwell is the best pivot in New Zealand and should be part of the Test side this year. Others, including Test great Gary Whetton, believe he’s not ready, which is an indication of the divergent thinking currently plaguing New Zealand rugby. I suppose it’s inevitable when Andrew Mehrtens wasn’t even on the Crusaders bench last weekend and Tony Brown perhaps hasn’t maintained his normal high standard this year, but I have to admit I always thought Holwell’s limitations were one of the reasons for the Hurricanes’ under-achievement. It could be that he and his team are about to prove me wrong and Golightly right; after all, the Crusaders have produced some late run-ins to snatch the title during their hat-trick of successful campaigns and it might just be the ‘Canes’ turn. But somehow I can’t see it. Which reminds me. Did I tell you about the colleague who’s just put down NZ$20, at 50-1, on the Crusaders to win their fourth straight title? How’s that for denial?