'Canes: Hit Crusaders with surprise win in Christchurch
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The Hurricanes kept their Super Rugby play-off hopes alive after sneaking past the Crusaders 23-22 in Christchurch on Saturday.
In a nail-biting contest, the hosts had a chance to snatch victory at the death with a last-gasp penalty attempt.
However, Tyler Bleyendaal's effort had the direction but not the distance as the ball fell inches short, handing the Hurricanes a crucial victory that keeps them in the hunt for a finals berth after moving to 49 points.
The Hurricanes outscored their hosts two tries to one thanks to a Conrad Smith brace to lead their Kiwi rivals by one point (17-16) at the break.
But five-pointers dried up in the second half and it was left to Crusaders pivot Tom Taylor and Beauden Barrett to battle it out with the boot, with the latter nailing a penalty goal in the 74th minute to put his team in front and ultimately seal the win for the men in yellow.
The result now leaves the Crusaders (52) ten points behind the Chiefs (62) on the New Zealand standings with just two rounds remaining.
In an even first half, Tom Taylor put the Crusaders into a 6-0 lead courtesy of two penalties however the Hurricanes hit the front through Smith's first try set up by a trademark break from Andre Taylor.
The full-back collected his chip and chase, and then found himself with the ball five passes later after he was put into space by Julian Savea. Taylor was hauled down a few metres short, but Smith was on hand to take the pop pass and twist his way over the line for the score.
The Crusaders hit back with a superb 65m solo effort from winger Zac Guildford, who backed his pace to leave Taylor gasping as he stepped inside him for a sensational try.
However, the Hurricanes replied on the stroke of half-time through Smith's second touchdown after the skipper glided in typical fashion through a hole. Barrett's touchline conversion helped nudge the visitors ahead 17-16.
But the Hurricanes were their own worst enemy after the break as unforced errors crept in and they were lucky to only concede two Taylor penalties after the hosts had dominated territory and possession.
The visitors, who were distinctly second best at the set piece as well as in the disciplinary stakes, continued to play second fiddle to the Crusaders as the match entered the final quarter.
The Crusaders threw everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents, though miraculously the Hurricanes somehow stayed in touch and Barrett's two penalties ended up being decisive.
The scorers:
For Crusaders:
Tries: Guildford
Cons: Taylor
Pens: Taylor 5
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Smith 2
Cons: Barrett 2
Pens: Barrett 3
Crusaders: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Richie McCaw (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Tom Donnelly/Ross Kennedy, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Patrick Osborne.
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reg Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Karl Lowe, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Jayden Hayward.
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Comments
APV1 says...
I really enjoyed the game, although some of the set pieces were awful. Perhaps this is an example where "us lot" in the NH take the set pice more (too!) seriously, where-as "you lot" in the SH, the emphasis is more on running the ball. But seriously, a professional top-level 2 who can't throw straight?! I remember Phil Greening struggling with his throw, so he went off with the World Darts Champion for some training. Did him the power of good. Any good darts players in NZ?
I think one of the stand-out things for me was the speed of service at the breakdown. Even if the passes were sometimes a little wayward, they were gotten away quickly to the next man up. There was less thought and more "thow it and run!", which seemed to work. Although when the 9 was missing, no-one else liked to take the responsibility, which was poor.
Good fun this rugby-malarky, isn't it?!
Posted 10:29 02nd July 2012
mikeNZ1 says...
Carpelone - we all knew Bryce isn't a good referee but nobody outside of SA thinks he or any officials are cheats or corrupt.
Posted 08:14 02nd July 2012
porridge_time says...
Carphone...
The Boks did not beat Aus in the world cup because they were crap... Lawrence is not the best official or worst for that matter. But you really need to grow up.
Posted 21:04 01st July 2012
tha_mai says...
special mention for Taranaki's Francis Douglas College, Smith and Barret both 1st XV, old boys of that school. FDMC 23 Crus 22.
less praise for their other old boy, John Mitchell, tho'
great game, I don't care about the ref (and anyway, what were the asst refs doing?), because Hurricanes won! I think historically they've been on the end of plenty of poor decisions them v Crusaders, a little (ahem) 'luck' this time, about time too!
Posted 13:52 01st July 2012
curveball says...
A bit of a surprise to see NZ fans complain about the best New Zealand referee of 2011, Bryce Blunders. I guess his World Cup failure could still be overlooked, but the poor performances are suddenly now too close for comfort. Perhaps a case of what goes around comes around...
Posted 13:41 01st July 2012
isthatrightref says...
Just slo-mo'd the Fox Sports highlights package & while there's still no obstruction in Smith's 1st try (& I'm as one-eyed a Cantab supporter as you'll meet this side of the ditch) nor was Savea in-goal if/when Smith made contact with him so maybe there was an accidental offside, not that it matters: Crusaders had more than enough possession & position, not to mention scrum- & lineout dominance, to win this but didn't. Enuf said?
Posted 09:00 01st July 2012
TheRoof says...
The Crusaders will not win the championship this year and that performance (as well as the previous matches this season against the Rebels, Chiefs and Bulls) will go some way towards proving this. 8 All Blacks in the forwards last night (10 in total) and we still lost the contest at the breakdown. New ideas are required. New coaches from outside the franchise would be a start. Or even better - lets hope the Wallabies have a shocker of a season and sack Robbie Deans and then we sign him up for next year. Now that would work
Posted 06:46 01st July 2012
isthatrightref says...
Gutted we blew it but I had a bad feeling about this one all week, glad I didn't re-invest Friday's winnings. Golden opportunity to seal 4th place, now looking more like 5th i.e. a finals program of Bulls - Chiefs - Stormers, all away, which is a hell of an ask & probably beyond anyone's capability. I suspect we'll go out in the 5th v 4th playoff, Chiefs v last SA team standing in the Final.
@ bk47, mew2000 etc... no obstruction but possibly an accidental offside? but then again when Smith touches Savea he's more-or-less already in the in-goal so I'm guessing that the no offside in-goal rule applies?
@ capedcrusader... steady on mate, every Crusaders follower knows that the Horrcanes are likely to throw a spanner in our works at this time of year.
Posted 01:36 01st July 2012
ABlack says...
The ABs need to take Andre Taylor to the NH in November
Posted 22:35 30th June 2012
mew2000 says...
Well I am hoping next year some of the boys will get over this silly idea of not respecting the other teams and playing with their heads... Sheez boys some silly penalities.... That first try to the hurricances shouldn't have been awarded, what's up with that bryce???? However taking nothing away from the hurricanes victory which they deserved so well done... Maybe Now the crusaders will pull their head out of the backside and play like they should do each week not excellent one week or average the next...
Posted 19:14 30th June 2012
carpelone says...
That made my day. Well done the Canes. Whoever complains about Bryce Lawrence, then stuff it up your a@*#
Posted 16:46 30th June 2012
olepete says...
Bryce Lawrence really has to retire after this one. But don't the commentators hate the Crusaders.
Posted 10:45 30th June 2012
bk47 says...
Gess my canes keep on making me look like a fool! Didn't think they could beat the crusaders at home let alone still be in contention for the finals but there you go. Don't know how we did it with a buggered scrum and lineout.
And with a bye and home games against a chiefs already confirmed in the playoffs, damn the excitement is building!
Final thing. I don't usually do this and I tend to give people here s**t for doing it every week but I have to say the reffing by Bryce lawrence was just appaling tonight. Savea clearly obstructed heading to smiths first try, there were forward pass everywhere being missed and the list could go on and on. He was once a good ref but the world cup must have just screwed his confidence. Time to hang up the whistle my old boy.
Posted 10:38 30th June 2012
capedcrusader says...
ok firstly hats off Hurricanes took your point scoring chance when on offer broke our line with ease in the last quarter to get the valuable territory and set piece became better at the right time.
Now
2 penalty opportunities to do anything with the ball they wanted and the Crusaders choose to take kicks in ridiculous field positions. ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS - stupid stupid decisions. The NZ franchises & AB's do this time & time again - lets respect the opposition & attempt to take the points WELL GUESS WHAT NOT NOT NOT the right option a lot of the time. The opposition say ok we're under immense pressure here lets stray offside & give them the best result for us 3 points. ok so the attacking team will say no we need to take the points when on offer. Correct. NOT CORRECT in this particular game - nonsense decisions - Bleyendaal on 5 mins yeah i'll take a kick from 60 out which if I dont get means we LOSE when we have time to kick for touch & win the lineout or even a scrum to keep ball in hand (assuming we win both!!). ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS - selfishly we needed to win that game it was vital given the teams chasing us & who we play & who they play going into the playoffs.
Call me throwing toys crying into my pint whatever i'll take that on the chin BUT I'm also really f'*ed off we dominated a game for long periods & then choked in the key decisions at the death That I wont take on the chin. My mates & family at home better not pick up their phones
Posted 10:38 30th June 2012
passtheball says...
Conrad Smith for next AB captain! Frae Wilson and Motu Matu'u need to start next week and Jayden Hayward needs more game time too. Great result for the Canes and the Chiefs.
Posted 10:25 30th June 2012