Blues 19 Hurricanes 37
Hurricanes hand out opening night Blues
11.02.06 9.25pm
The Hurricanes' swag of gamebreakers ensured history was reversed as they beat the Blues 37-19 in the first Super 14 rugby match at Eden Park in Auckland tonight.
Trailing 3-16 at halftime, the Hurricanes looked like they would be buried by their high error rate but five tries in 30 minutes after the break signified a huge turnaround.
Two All Blacks-laden teams played with ample intent but produced the sort of mistakes expected in an early February match, the Hurricanes winning on the back of a 34-3 second-half performance when several of their big-name players awoke from their first-half malaise.
Tonight's result turned history on its head.
Ten years ago the two teams introduced Super 12 rugby to the world at Palmerston North, with the Blues emerging 36-28 winners.
Tonight's scoreline, in the inaugural Super 14 match, came about because the defence of both teams lacked precision, although the same could be said of the much of the work with ball in hand.
Heavy rain for the last 30 minutes ensured the mistake rate only increased.
With their scrum starting to backpedal, it took a series of high-speed attacking raids from the Hurricanes -- inspired mainly by their star-studded backs or the aggressive work of loose fowards Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe -- to swing the game's momentum after halftime.
Blues second five-eighth Luke McAlister and Hurricanes No 10 Jimmy Gopperth traded penalties inside the first 10 minutes but it was half an hour before Blues centre Ben Atiga crossed for the competition's first try and his team's only one for the night.
The try gave the hosts a lift and they dominated the period before halftime, with McAlister slotting two more penalties.
The Blues had looked slicker in the backs and more cohesive on the drive but it all unravelled in the second spell.
The Hurricanes struck three minutes after halftime through winger Lome Fa'atau, who received a neat inside flick from fullback Isaia Toeava after the overlap was created from an attacking scrum.
They pulled within one point when second five-eighth Tana Umaga completed a slick 50m move involving Fa'atau and Toeava which featured a series of flat passes.
Ma'a Nonu, who had just shifted from wing to centre, then powered through replacement halfback Steve Devine and fullback Isa Nacewa to score under the crossbar.
That came just moments after Devine had gone down with a heavy head knock.
McAlister knocked over his fourth penalty but All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins pushed the visitors clear when he slid over after a series of Blues mistakes.
Fa'atau sealed the result with his second try when flanker Chris Masoe monstered Blues halfback John Senio and sent the winger clear 40m out.
The Hurricanes, who beat the Blues only once in the Super 12, host the Western Force in round two while the Blues travel to Dunedin to face the Highlanders.
Hurricanes 37 (Lome Fa'atau 2, Tama Umaga, Ma'a Nonu, Jerry Collins tries; Jimmy Gopperth pen, 2 con, David Holwell pen, con)
Blues 19 (Ben Atiga try; Luke McAlister 4 pen, con).
Halftime: 3-16.
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Hurricanes v Cats Match Report
Friday, 24 February 2006
The Hurricanes beat the Cats 29-16 in their Rebel Sport Super 14 round three clash at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday night.
The Hurricanes continued their great start to the competition, earning a four-try bonus point win for the third successive week and maintaining their position on the top of the Super 14 ladder.
The Hurricanes’ tries were scored by right wing Lome Fa’atau (2), openside flanker Chris Masoe and fullback Isaia Toeava. For the Cats, centre Grant Esterhuizen scored their sole try.
Two tries for the Hurricanes in the three minutes just prior to halftime and the bonus point try coming in the 80th minute characterised a well-deserved victory for the Hurricanes.
Trailing 7-10 heading towards the halftime break, the Hurricanes struck back with a superb converted try to Chris Masoe off an attacking lineout drive in the 37th minute, before Fa’atau magnificently scooped up a spilt Cats ball and ran 40 metres to score again for the home team.
The 12-point turnaround saw the Hurricanes go to halftime leading 19-10.
Earlier, Fa’atau had scored his first try for the Hurricanes in the third minute of play. Spreading the ball across the posts, the Hurricanes’ backs stretched the Cats’ defence, with fullback Toeava slipping Fa’atau a deft inside pass to see the Samoan express cross the line. First five-eighth David Holwell converted for a 7-0 lead.
This conversion saw Holwell move into outright fifth on the all-time Super rugby points scoring list.
The Cats hit back with a penalty to fullback Earl Rose, who replaced first five-eighth Tiaan Snyman at pivot early in the game. This was followed by a converted try to Esterhuizen following a clever shortside probe by halfback Enrico Januarie.
The Hurricanes were hot on attack right after the break and were unlucky not to score another try when the forwards were held up over the line. Awarded a penalty soon after, Holwell was successful and the home side extended their lead to 22-10.
A ding-dong battle ensued, with Rose replying with a Cats penalty in the 58th minute, pegging the deficit back to within nine points.
It remained 22-13 until late in the game, with the Hurricanes creating several try scoring opportunities, but were unlucky not to capitalise.
Rose then kicked his third penalty with two minutes to play, but the Cats were then denied a bonus point of their own as Toeava scored on fulltime, plucking a cross kick by replacement first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth out of the air with Gopperth adding the extras.
This victory was also built on another resilient defensive effort from the Hurricanes, with captain and No. 8 Rodney So’oialo leading the way, and lock Jason Eaton and Masoe also everywhere in broken play.
The Hurricanes now travel to play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next Sunday morning (New Zealand time) for the first of three games in South Africa.
By Steven White
Hurricanes: Isaia Toeava, Lome Fa'atau, Ma'a Nonu, Tana Umaga, Hosea Gear, David Holwell, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (captain), Chris Masoe, Luke Andrews, Jason Eaton, Paul Tito, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Joe McDonnell. Reserves: Luke Mahoney, Tim Fairbrother, Jerry Collins, Thomas Waldrom, Brendan Haami, Jimmy Gopperth, Shannon Paku.
Cats: Earl Rose, Wylie Human, Grant Esterhuizen, Wayne Julies, Jaqcue Fourie, Tiaan Snyman, Enrico Januarie, Ernst Joubert, Wickus van Heerden (captain), Gerhard Vosloo, Willem Stoltz, Trevor Hall, Daniel Muller, Lukas van Biljon, Pietman van Niekerk. Reserves: Delaray du Preez, Lawrence Sephaka, Kleinjan Tromp, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jano Vermaak, Doppies la Grange, Jorrie Muller.
Friday, 24 February 2006
The Hurricanes beat the Cats 29-16 in their Rebel Sport Super 14 round three clash at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday night.
The Hurricanes continued their great start to the competition, earning a four-try bonus point win for the third successive week and maintaining their position on the top of the Super 14 ladder.
The Hurricanes’ tries were scored by right wing Lome Fa’atau (2), openside flanker Chris Masoe and fullback Isaia Toeava. For the Cats, centre Grant Esterhuizen scored their sole try.
Two tries for the Hurricanes in the three minutes just prior to halftime and the bonus point try coming in the 80th minute characterised a well-deserved victory for the Hurricanes.
Trailing 7-10 heading towards the halftime break, the Hurricanes struck back with a superb converted try to Chris Masoe off an attacking lineout drive in the 37th minute, before Fa’atau magnificently scooped up a spilt Cats ball and ran 40 metres to score again for the home team.
The 12-point turnaround saw the Hurricanes go to halftime leading 19-10.
Earlier, Fa’atau had scored his first try for the Hurricanes in the third minute of play. Spreading the ball across the posts, the Hurricanes’ backs stretched the Cats’ defence, with fullback Toeava slipping Fa’atau a deft inside pass to see the Samoan express cross the line. First five-eighth David Holwell converted for a 7-0 lead.
This conversion saw Holwell move into outright fifth on the all-time Super rugby points scoring list.
The Cats hit back with a penalty to fullback Earl Rose, who replaced first five-eighth Tiaan Snyman at pivot early in the game. This was followed by a converted try to Esterhuizen following a clever shortside probe by halfback Enrico Januarie.
The Hurricanes were hot on attack right after the break and were unlucky not to score another try when the forwards were held up over the line. Awarded a penalty soon after, Holwell was successful and the home side extended their lead to 22-10.
A ding-dong battle ensued, with Rose replying with a Cats penalty in the 58th minute, pegging the deficit back to within nine points.
It remained 22-13 until late in the game, with the Hurricanes creating several try scoring opportunities, but were unlucky not to capitalise.
Rose then kicked his third penalty with two minutes to play, but the Cats were then denied a bonus point of their own as Toeava scored on fulltime, plucking a cross kick by replacement first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth out of the air with Gopperth adding the extras.
This victory was also built on another resilient defensive effort from the Hurricanes, with captain and No. 8 Rodney So’oialo leading the way, and lock Jason Eaton and Masoe also everywhere in broken play.
The Hurricanes now travel to play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next Sunday morning (New Zealand time) for the first of three games in South Africa.
By Steven White
Hurricanes: Isaia Toeava, Lome Fa'atau, Ma'a Nonu, Tana Umaga, Hosea Gear, David Holwell, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (captain), Chris Masoe, Luke Andrews, Jason Eaton, Paul Tito, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Joe McDonnell. Reserves: Luke Mahoney, Tim Fairbrother, Jerry Collins, Thomas Waldrom, Brendan Haami, Jimmy Gopperth, Shannon Paku.
Cats: Earl Rose, Wylie Human, Grant Esterhuizen, Wayne Julies, Jaqcue Fourie, Tiaan Snyman, Enrico Januarie, Ernst Joubert, Wickus van Heerden (captain), Gerhard Vosloo, Willem Stoltz, Trevor Hall, Daniel Muller, Lukas van Biljon, Pietman van Niekerk. Reserves: Delaray du Preez, Lawrence Sephaka, Kleinjan Tromp, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jano Vermaak, Doppies la Grange, Jorrie Muller.
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