Hernandez key to Heineken Cup success, says McKenzie
Hernandez was not at his best last season, his exploits with the Pumas during their run to the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup taking their toll.
But after resisting a summer move to Leicester, the 26-year-old fly-half has started the new campaign in superb fashion and is one of the major reasons why Stade are six points clear atop the Top 14 with a 100% record after six matches.
This season’s Heineken Cup, which begins a week on Friday, will welcome a host of new faces including imperious New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter, who joins up with Perpignan in December.
But McKenzie, speaking at France’s Heineken Cup launch day in Paris, reckons he already has the real deal in Hernandez.
“I know everyone is talking about the arrival of Dan Carter but for me, Hernandez is up there on the same shelf,” the Australian said.
“He is a very important player for us and it’s important that he stayed. I didn’t really know him apart from when I saw him play for Argentina but seeing him all the time now, he’s just a complete player.”
Hernandez, who has played at number 10 and at full-back so far this season, is Stade’s focal point but in players such as France fly-half Lionel Beauxis and high-profile Australian code-switcher Mark Gasnier, the Paris club have other attacking threats.
Although Hernandez is clearly the stand-out player in his squad, McKenzie reckons opposition teams would be foolish to focus solely on the Argentinian. “Teams may target him (Hernandez) but he doesn’t shirk anything,” McKenzie added.
“He’ll make the tackles, take the high balls and do everything really well. We’re not going to wrap him in cotton wool. He is there to play but we can’t just have a game revolving around one player.
“We have other players. We have Lionel Beauxis and Gasnier. If people concentrate on Hernandez, we can move it around.”
Stade will be confident of progressing through a group that also comprises Llanelli Scarlets, Ulster and Harlequins.
“I think there is an opportunity for us but we have to be good enough to take that opportunity,” McKenzie said. “You can’t look at form going in, you have to make sure you get it right on the day. The challenge for us is also getting used to going from the Top 14 then the Heineken Cup and then back again.”
Stade may be two-time finalists in Europe’s elite competition and going well domestically this season but the French team to watch out for again this year are Toulouse.
There are five other French teams involved this year — Biarritz, Clermont-Auvergne, Montauban, Castres and Perpignan. Of that quintet, Clermont are arguably the most dangerous, although they have been thrown into a group that includes holders Munster and current Guinness Premiership leaders Sale.
“We had the same thing last season, when we had to play Llanelli, Wasps and Munster,” said coach Jean-Marc Lhermet.
“Because we haven’t a history in the European Cup, our ranking is not high but it is good for us to be competing against these great teams.
“We came close to qualifying last season and we will do our best to achieve it this time.”
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