Aisle be Back Hurricanes v Chiefs (check guides for replays)

• By Kevin McCarthy 

The Hurricanes – Chiefs match directly clashes with club rugby this week. Attendance at club rugby matches is encouraged ahead of the Super Rugby fixture. Check guides for replays of that match. Club rugby Draws & teamlists for round 3 HERE

Here comes the reality check.

It’s hardly the Hurricanes’ fault that they’ve had a string of weaker sides to play in their run so far to the top of the table. The top of course, with one game more played than this weekend’s opponents.

With the exception of the Blues – their single loss to date – they’ve not been tested by a top contending side.

They have done the job, therefore, and not dropped any of the should-wins, albeit with some risky flirting against the Force and the Rebels.

The Chiefs by comparison have knocked over the Crusaders and the Blues.

So very much a moving day match for the Hurricanes – especially given they will face their bete noir, the Brumbies, a week later.

There is no reason to think the Hurricanes aren’t up to it this season – but we really don’t know yet, do we.

A silver lining is that the lighting man couldn’t find enough bayonet socket light bulbs to get the Cake Tin illuminated.

So, it’s moved to a daytime start. How good is that, because we all know the rugby is just that much better to watch. Just don’t tell the administrators.

Fingers crossed for Peter Umaga-Jensen, and his shoulders. Back from a long injury break it would be fantastic to see him regain the form that once saw him win an All Black cap. That feels a long time ago now.

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Yes, at first look at seemed a bit odd that the Black Ferns new coaching setup is all male.

But this doesn’t appear to be one of those train crash moments that the NZR loves to set up.

Instead, it’s pretty clear that with Whitney Hansen ruling herself out of a tilt at the job, the experience pool underneath of female coaches is too slim.

All parties seem to acknowledge that, and that in due course, women will be coaching the women’s side.

Raises an intriguing question. Will we one day see the All Blacks coached by a woman?  Probably not in my lifetime, but no doubt it will one day happen.

In the meantime, it would presumably make sense to expose our top women’s coach to the All Black setup, in an assistant coach role. That could happen quite quickly, and to the benefit of all.

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As it looks like the Hurricanes will need a new coach next year, no doubt you are all dusting off your CVs.

If strong opinions, snap judgments and abrasive style are part of the job criteria, then I don’t think the search need to go beyond social media channels. The Hurricanes fans page for example.

Sadly, they will probably want you to have some coaching experience, which to quote Seinfeld’s George Constanza, just doesn’t seem fair.

Don’t complain to me. Complain to Facebook.

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The Hurricanes team for tomorrow’s match against the Chiefs is below: