Back home after two seasons experiencing the fervid atmosphere of French club rugby, prop John Schwalger has developed an admiration for his under-fire Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett.
The Hurricanes are the only Super Rugby team without a win after opening their campaign with defeats away to the Sharks and Stormers, followed by a 29-21 home loss to the Brumbies on Friday.
Criticism of fourth-year coach Hammett is mounting, with the team racking up eight successive losses which include the last five games of the 2013 season, when a strong squad finished 11th.
Schwalger says criticism of the coaches is unreasonable and that the players should shoulder the blame, particularly for the error-strewn loss to the Brumbies after progress appeared to have been made in South Africa.
The two-Test All Black, back in Wellington after a stint with Agen in rugby-mad southwest France, says Hammett’s demeanour is admirable considering the players have agreed to the gameplan but aren’t executing it.
“He’ll come in with a calm face. That’s credit to him. If it was me I’d be swearing hard out or trying to hit somebody,” Schwalger said.
“In France, that’s all they do. They head butt stuff. You come out of the changing room bleeding. Not because of what you do out on the field – it’s what happened in the changing room.”
Writing in a newspaper column, Taine Randell recommended another former All Blacks captain – Counties Manukau coach Tana Umaga – should take the Hurricanes coaching reins.
However, Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni says Hammett and assistant coach Alama Ieremia have the full support of the franchise for at least the remainder of their contracts, which expire at the end of the season.
Ieremia admits to feeling some pressure following the substandard performance against the Brumbies.
“Obviously the losses are hurting but it’s the performance we have to focus on,” he said.
“The danger of reviewing situations like this is that all of a sudden you start trying to find everything that’s wrong.
“It’s easy to get emotional about it.”
Saturday’s game is against a Cheetahs side who will also be stinging after losing three of their first four games.
“There’s pressure to perform this week,” Ieremia said.
