Hurricanes Assistant Coach and former All Black Cory Jane believes his side can go all the way in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition, backing his men to bounce back from a disappointing display last season.
With the insertion of experienced All Blacks TJ Perenara, Owen Franks and Dominic Bird, along with the exciting young talent in Ruben Love and Aidan Morgan, Jane is confident his side can have a shot at the title.
In his third year as defensive coach for the Canes, and with 53 Test caps to his name, Jane has a wealth of experience in the rugby arena, and has enjoyed his time in the coaching position, particularly in mentoring the younger players.
“I worry and stress over my rugby. I’m quite particular in that I want to get the detail across to the boys,” he said on Mornings with Ian Smith.
“I like to make sure that I’m well planned, and I like to keep evolving, keep trying to change the game.
“If I’m able to give my input, and keep trying to be innovative around how rugby is played then I am enjoying myself.”
The return of TJ Perenara from his stint in Japan will add a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Wellington-based side, particularly benefiting the younger halfbacks he is surrounded by in the 2022 squad.
“He’s always hungry,” Jane said.
“One of the most competitive people I’ve ever met. He comes in, tries to compete, tries to be the best and he’s able to get that out of others.
“We missed having him around last year, especially with the young guys in that position, so having him back can only be good for us.”
The addition of Franks to the Canes side, who has 108 Test caps for the All Blacks, making him one of the most capped players of all time, adds an extra dimension to the Canes forward pack, as well as two-Test lock Bird.
While both are injured going into the season, Jane feels that their presence off the field will be just as motivational for their teammates as it would on the field.
Both former Crusaders, Franks and Bird will be sure to give their fellow Canes players plenty of insight, as the teams are set to take each other on in the opening Super match on February 19, at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
While having former players and All Blacks back in the side has boosted the experience within the Canes camp, it is the young players that excite Jane the most as the competition start date looms.
Love and Morgan, both 20 years of age, have displayed impressive skill and talent at the provincial level, with Love even having experience in the Super competition after making his debut for the Canes in the 2021 season.
“He (Love) has had a taste of what it’s like, so it will be pretty cool to see how much he has grown from playing with us last season to now,” he said.
“He’s very competitive, but he’s a huge talent and I’m just excited to see how he goes this year.
“Morgan is another exciting one. You’ve got two young kids competing, running around trying to learn the game and it’s a great opportunity for them and us at the Canes.
“If we can help them understand rugby and grow their game then it could be a good year for us and for them personally.”
Jane believes the competitive nature of the young players, in combination with the experience of the remainder of the team will ensure the team’s success.
“We want to win it, that’s what our mentality is,” he said.
“We’re going to go out there and get stuck into it.”