Every time a sports team has a round off, each coach does their best to explain why it was good for their side. Rugby coaches like to point to the physical nature of the game and acknowledge their players needed a rest.
The Hurricanes have fallen in to that category this week as they will come off a bye and meet the Waratahs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington today.
Their most recent outing against the Stormers two weeks ago produced a 25-20 victory but there was collateral damage.
"The downside of a bye is [losing] your momentum," Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said. "But we found the Stormers game particularly physical and I think, post the Stormers, was a good time to get rid of a few creaks and bumps and bruises."
Coaches often have a feel for how their charges will perform and Boyd was content with their preparation for today's outing.
"I think we've had a really good training week this week and they're just ticking along nicely," Boyd said.
Positives have been found, so let's turn our attention to the Waratahs.
If the defending champions show up, they can compete with anyone in the competition but with four wins and three losses this season, they've been a mixed bag.
Experienced centre Adam Ashley-Cooper will start today after he returned from two months off due to a knee injury via the bench last week in a game where the Waratahs lost 32-18 to the Stormers.
That result would have been frustrating for the Waratahs, particularly to lose at home, but coach Michael Cheika has resisted any urge to make sweeping changes. Loose forward Jacques Potgieter will play from the reserves after being limited by an ankle ailment this week, which gives Pat McCutcheon a chance at blindside flanker.
Fijian wing Taqele Naiyaravoro, who is the leading try-scorer for the Waratahs this year with three five-pointers, hasn't made the trip to New Zealand due to a visa issue and has been replaced by former Tasman Mako Peter Betham.
There is also the looming threat of fullback Israel Folau who leads the competition in offloads and carries and is second among all players in defenders beaten and metres gained.
"They'll be a massive hurdle for us," Boyd said.
The Waratahs love to keep the ball in hand and lead Super Rugby in metres, clean breaks, defenders beaten, offloads and passes per game.
That will create a potential clash of attack v defence this afternoon in the capital given the Hurricanes have proven tough to break down this season.
The unbeaten Hurricanes, who have pushed to the giddy heights of seven from seven, need to ensure they can retain the ball after giving away too much possession in their past two games.
They have the backline to die for, they just need to provide them with service.
- By Daniel Richardson of NZME. News Service