It’s now or never for the Hurricanes: Jane

The Hurricanes have issued a call to arms as they fight for play off survival against the Cheetahs in South Africa this weekend.

Fullback Cory Jane says that their season is on the line and that it is now or never

“It’s make or break this weekend, if we don’t perform it could be our season gone,” Jane told NZPA.

Last week’s Stormers loss was a boost for the Stormers but a bigger blow for the Hurricanes who’s season has been spattered with some poor option taking and sloppy handling errors.

Jane described his side’s performance against the Stormers as “a shocker,” and warned that a repeat of that against the Cheetahs could cause irreparable harm to their playoffs hopes.

“We let ourselves down with basic errors, we need to pick up our skills a bit more,” he said.

Those mistakes were not confined to the game against the Stormers, but instead followed a similar pattern this season.

“I think we let teams get to us. Then we put pressure on ourselves when we don’t need to at the time.

“We try to push a pass when we don’t need to or try to be too fancy. In the heat of battle we’ve tried to do something too fancy; when it doesn’t come off we end up paying for it.”

Jane added that there no question that the Hurricanes have the skills but it is consistency that is letting them down.

Coach Colin Cooper has responded to the loss to the Stormers by making significant changes to his back line, promoting teenage wing Zac Guildford to the starting 15 in place of Shannon Paku and dumping first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth for Willie Ripia.

Up front, the absence of injured loose forward Jerry Collins will be keenly felt, with Cooper naming fellow All Black Chris Masoe in his place at No 6 and slotting Scott Waldrom on to the openside.

John Schwalger drops out of the match day 22, with Tim Fairbrother coming in to partner fellow prop Neemia Tialata.