最高の Rugby's new normal: ハリケーンs on a high, 改革運動家s in a rut
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - The new normal in 最高の Rugby 太平洋の - with the unbeaten ハリケーンs at the 最高の，を越す of the standings and the winless 改革運動家s at the 底（に届く） - may be disorienting for fans of both teams and disconcerting for the other clubs in between.
支持者s of the Christchurch-based 改革運動家s are as accustomed to success after 11 選手権 seasons, just as 信奉者s of the Wellington-based ハリケーンs are familiar with 失望. The ハリケーンs´ only 最高の Rugby 肩書を与える （機の）カム in 2016, though they first reached the final in 2006.
The ハリケーンs are 5-0 長，率いるing into a sixth-一連の会議、交渉／完成する match Saturday against the Dunedin-based Highlanders. Their streak 含むs a 14-10 勝利，勝つ over the 改革運動家s in Christchurch.
The 改革運動家s are 0-5 ahead of Friday´s re-match against the Hamilton-based 長，指導者s, the second time these 2023 grand final 競争相手s have played in 2024. The 長，指導者s won 33-29 when the teams met in 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 1.
The teams' fortunes have diverged はっきりと since then; the 長，指導者s are 4-1 and second in the standings behind the ハリケーンs. The 改革運動家s can't buy a 勝利，勝つ.
In the 改革運動家s´ 好意 Friday, the 長，指導者s are 残り／休憩（する）ing flyhalf Damian McKenzie, who has 供給するd the 誘発する for their attacking play all season and they seem to lose cohesion when he leaves the field.
Ryan Smith of the Queensland Reds, 権利, tries to 避ける 弁護 by the Western 軍隊 during the 最高の Rugby 太平洋の 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 5 match in Perth, Australia, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Richard Wainwright/AAP 経由で AP)
On the other 手渡す, the 改革運動家s have had another major 傷害 blow with the loss of 中心 David Havili and will field their third captain of the season, Mitch Drummond.
Coach 略奪する Penney has remained 楽観的な that the 改革運動家s´ first 勝利，勝つ of the season is not far away.
"We feel as though we´re 競争の激しい with everybody and on our day we can （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 anybody," he said. "明白に every week we´ve made it harder for ourselves but we´ve just got to 固く結び付ける a place in the プレーオフs.
"If we can get there we know we´ll be dangerous. We´ve just got to find a way to get there."
The 半端物s of the 改革運動家s reaching the プレーオフs already are わずかな／ほっそりした and will be slimmer if they lose again to the 長，指導者s.
長，指導者s coach Clayton McMillan said he is "definitely empathetic" for the 改革運動家s and the many problems they are 直面するing because of 傷害s and the 出発 of 重要な players.
"Believe it or not, we all 肉親，親類d of feel for them," McMillan said. "We do because we´ve been in that 状況／情勢 and we know what it feels like.
"And when you´re in that space there´ll be nobody that´s sleeping too much and they´ll be turning over every 石／投石する. いつかs it only takes one victory to help turn the corner - we hope it´s not us but we won´t be surprised if they throw the kitchen 沈む at us."
The 状況／情勢 the ハリケーンs´ find themselves in - an almost 前例のない one for the franchise - could hardly draw a starker contrast. The 茎s have an 豊富 of talent and almost all of it fit and 利用できる. While their 現在の streak isn't the longest in their history, the ハリケーンs usually don't 攻撃する，衝突する 最高の，を越す gear until later in the season.
They showed off that talent last 週末 by making 14 changes to their starting 15 and still （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing the Melbourne 反逆者／反逆するs 54-28.
The ハリケーンs will return to almost 十分な strength against the Highlanders with scrumhalf （機の）カム Roigard, flyhalf Brett Cameron, fullback Ruben Love, winger Kini Naholo and 中心 Billy Proctor 再結合させるing Jordie Barrett.
Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose return to a 今後 pack in which All 黒人／ボイコットs 支え（る） Tyrel Lomax will play his 100th 最高の Rugby game.
"選ぶing the 味方する for this match was very hard for us," coach Clark Laidlaw said. "The coaches spent a couple of days trying to settle on a (matchday) 23 trying to fit in players who put on really good 業績／成果s against the 反逆者／反逆するs and probably deserve to be in this week.
"But we 明白に 残り／休憩（する）d some of the boys last week who had played a lot of minutes and had been playing 井戸／弁護士席, so the 適切な時期 for them to come 支援する in was there."
The Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies 会合，会う Saturday in a 重要な match の中で Australian clubs. The Brumbies are third and the Reds, coming off an upset loss to the Western 軍隊, are fifth on the 選手権 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. The teams a re separated by only three points.
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Tom Lynagh, left, of the Queensland Reds runs with the ball during the 最高の Rugby 太平洋の match between the Melbourne 反逆者／反逆するs and the Queensland Reds in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 15, 2024. (略奪する Prezioso/AAP Image 経由で AP)
Hudson Creighton of the Brumbies 得点する／非難する／２０s a try during the 最高の Rugby 太平洋の 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 5 match between the ACT Brumbies and Moana Pasifika in Canberra, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image 経由で AP)
