First game of the year and Pat Lam’s mob show they have learned absolutely nothing.

Sure there was plenty of moments of talent from the Auckland team but there were many more examples of utter stupidity. I’m normally someone who subscribes in the theory that problems in a sporting teams normally have there origins with management.

With the Blues I have the greatest respect for Pat Lam so one can only ponder on what is the real issues.

The team made error after error and at crucial times. They led at half time but then gave away the lead with penalty after penalty. Stu ‘the pedantic’ Dickinson kept blowing the whistle and it was mostly against the Blues and in many cases when it was within easy kicking reach for the boys from Hurricane territory.

The final insult came when Hosea Gear turned the tide in the 58th minute with a remarkable intercept try off a wayward Stephen Brett pass. The converted try put the Hurricanes back in the lead. It was the second attempt at an intercept with the Blues keeping long lob passes going till the Hurricanes managed to secure a try!

The new rules seem to free things up and it was a better spectacle if wasn’t for those stupid dorklanders who just made too many mistakes. Plenty for Lam to work on, you just need to wonder though if he has a team with an IQ sufficient to correct the multitude of folly that was witnessed during the 80 minutes.

Congratulations to the Canes – by far the better team if only for just playing the basics well.

Hurricanes 34
Try: Hosea Gear
Con: Piri Weepu
Pens: Willie Ripia (5), Piri Weepu (4)

Blues 20
Tries: Stephen Brett, John Afoa
Cons: Stephen Brett (2)
Pens: Stephen Brett (2)

Halftime: Blues 20-12