Horray - 2010 to be Colin Cooper's last season!

[Gwynn]

And about time too.  Colin Cooper isn't going to renew his contract with the Hurricanes after next year, meaning the search is soon to begin for his replacement.

The Hurricanes have already indicated they want to pick within the region, of which the front runners are Peter Russell (Hawke's Bay), Dave Rennie (Manawatu, U20s) and Jamie Joseph (Wellington)

My pick is Hawke's Bay's Peter Russell, who has been the standout coach in the region over the last few years, he's enjoyed success with Waiarapa Bush, has turned Hawke's Bay into an ANZC heavyweight in only a few years and he's got Super 14 coaching experience with as assistant coach of the Highlanders.

Dave Rennie has done a good job with Manawatu and the U20s, and enjoyed success initially with Wellington in 2000 by winning the NPC (in what was an awesome final against Canterbury!) but I just don't see him as Super 14 coaching material.  He was assistant for the Hurricanes in 2002, and evidently he didn't have it in him to step up at the time.

Jamie Joseph is in the early days of his coaching career, and while I see promise in the guy, at the same time I'm not convinced he's going to offer anything different from the Wellington centric behaviour of Colin Cooper.

In reality I think the Hurricanes will probably pick Jamie Joseph, but I'm really hoping they see the light and go with Peter Russell.

[Geeves]

Well you now have Phil Mooney. 

Enjoy!

[gluck]

Jamie will be a good coach in time. He is good mates with Norm Hewitt, who would advocate Hawkes Bay Inclusion.

Wellington should, have a backline with Dagg, Jane, Guildford, Nonu, Smith, Rapira, Gear, Weepu, Ellison, Mathewson, a lot of talent running through that franchise, Cruden, Shoemark, Bequist are others that could be picked, if they get it right they get the mix right.