Aisle be Back: Hurricanes hosting Sharks in first home game of 2020

• By Kevin McCarthy 

First fist-pump of the year! I managed to be on a remote and very beautiful island in the Falklands at the same time the Canes were only a hop skip and a long jump away in Buenos Aires.

No internet then until 16 hours later when we got back to the big smoke. Hurricanes 26, Jaguares 23.

Honestly, I did not expect that, and in a way I’m glad I didn’t have to sit there at the 65^th minute mark feeling glum.

I kind of have adopted the attitude this year that the team is going to be a mystery going into every game. It’s my self-defence mechanism – if they outperform my low expectations, then I’m going to winning all the way.

On paper I’m not optimistic against the Sharks. We’ve had to travel back, and they’ve had a thumping win over the Highlanders. But then, who can tell whether the Landers are any good this year.

That’s just early round chop isn’t it. Sure the Chiefs are looking good and who isn’t pleased to see the Crusaders stutter early.

The Canes could surprise upside of course this week. No-one can say they are playing that well, yet to grit it out in Argentina against what is a tough side would suggest there’s no lack of spirit.

So I’ll probably wake up at 3am (yeah that’s the time difference)  and peer at my cellphone with trepidation.

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Did Jordie turn the corner last weekend? THAT kick and the try-saving tackle were the sort of moments you need from your top players.

Right from the get go, he’s always been a bit of a square peg looking for a round hole, and successive coaches haven’t helped solve the puzzle.

So it might be tempting to try him out at first-five. But let it go. Jordie’s been shunted from position to position, so lets see him given consistent time at 15.

If he’s going well there, then moving him to a problem area probably won’t fix the problem, and it will lose you what is working.

And of course if you toss the two first-fives out of the mx so early on, what a terrific vote of confidence. The hating on the two rookies is really out of order now the season is underway.

If come mid-season, it isn’t working out, then by all means – but give them a chance to grow their game.

One Beauden Barrett after all was not an overnight sensation.

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Who is in charge of these jerseys?

I mean, it’s all very elegant this blue rinse, if you’re a team of pensioners.

Not really the Hurricanes though, is it?

In case anyone is listening, we wear yellow. Yellow is worth points, blue reminds us of another team called the – well, you know – and their proud pedigree.

If we’re not wearing yellow this weekend, I’m going to start a petition. Starting with the signatures of a couple of blue rinsed nanas.

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The Hurricanes return home to Wellington Stadium to host the Sharks this Saturday in their first home game of the year.

Poneke hooker Dane Coles returns from injury to ride the pine and says he’s excited at the potential of getting in some game time.

“It’s been a while, but I’m feeling in good nick. I have been working hard to get back out there and I’m looking forward to having a run.”

He says coming back in time for ‘Opening Night’ is exciting.

“We love getting out there in front of our fans at Sky Stadium. Home games are pretty special.”

Northern United halfback TJ Perenara will captain the side, which remains largely unchanged from last weekend.