Test of character looms for Canes

BY TOBY ROBSON

Self doubt is like a creeping weed.

In a team it can spread so quickly even the most confident individuals can suddenly question what they are doing and how they are going.

And so the Hurricanes will front up in Cape Town tomorrow morning looking for answers in what shapes as their most strenuous exam of the season so far.

In the Stormers, the Hurricanes face a side with the same record of three wins and a loss, but riding a wave of momentum.

The Cape Town crowd are high on the buzz of brilliant wing Bryan Habana, who is complementing a side that has uncharacteristically squeezed the life out of opponents with a defence about as giving as a Scotsman at a pub.

In contrast, the Hurricanes have had a disrupted few weeks that has included the loss of senior lock Jason Eaton to injury, a deflating loss to the Cheetahs, and news that team leader Tamati Ellison is off to Japan at season's end.

How they respond will speak more of their character than anything else.

In their opening three matches there were signs of a new-found maturity, a team that finds ways to win, ugly or otherwise.

Then suddenly they were outsmarted at the breakdown in Bloemfontein, heavily penalised for the second week running, and ill-disciplined with yellow cards to Ma'a Nonu and Jeremy Thrush.

A repeat at Newlands will see them lose and possibly lose heavily.

Coach Colin Cooper's task this week is to restore his side's sense of self.

He will tell his players they were tired from travel last week, under-strength and short-changed by the referee.

He will assert Willie Ripia's ability to re-establish the territorial assertiveness of the opening three matches and Ellison and Conrad Smith's to provide flair and consistency.

Ripia at least, should enter the match with a swagger. Questioned at every turn by media and fans, he is the unquestioned owner of the No10 jersey for the first time this season.

The Hurricanes set piece must perform better. The Stormers lineout feeds a rolling maul better to avoid than challenge.

Jacob Ellison gets his chance at loosehead and will need to produce his best against Wicus Blaauw.

The Stormers, and Habana, feed off mistakes. They have the best defence in the competition having bled only 38 points in four matches, and let in just two tries.

Nonu must forget guile and create holes through brute force. He owes his team-mates after spending 20 minutes of the last two matches on a sideline chair.

Openside Scott Waldrom must pressure Stormers first-five Peter Grant, a player who operates at brilliant and awful, and rarely in between.

And the Hurricanes must tread more carefully at the breakdown. Aggression is great, but not when it costs three points a pop.

Cooper has spoken this week of the side's 2006 tour when they lost to the Cheetahs, then gutsed out a 23-19 win in Cape Town. If his week of weeding has worked, the Hurricanes remain well capable of a similarly meritorious result.

HOW THEY LINE UP

Stormers v Hurricanes

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town

TV: Live, tomorrow, Sky Sport 1, 6.10am

Referee: Nathan Pearce (AUS)

TAB odds: Stormers $1.50, Hurricanes $2.50

Stormers: Johan Pietersen, Sireli Naqelevuki, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (c), Andries Bekker, Anton van Zyl, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Wicus Blaauw.

Reserves: Deon Fourie, JC Kritzinger, De Kock Steenkamp, Pieter Louw, Ricky Januarie, Lionel Cronje, Gio Aplon.

Hurricanes: Cory Jane, Tamati Ellison, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, David Smith, Willie Ripia, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Scott Waldrom, Victor Vito, Michael Paterson, Bryn Evans, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore (c), Jacob Ellison.

Reserves: Dane Coles, John Schwalger, Jeremy Thrush, Karl Lowe, Tyson Keats, Aaron Cruden, Alapati Leiua.

- © Fairfax NZ News