Rampant Hurricanes rout limp Lions
The seven tries to three victory showed the real chasm that exists between New Zealand and South African teams – not so much on the scoreboard, but more in the intensity and execution of how they play the game.
The Lions looked shell-shocked after conceding a couple of early tries and then lost the plot completely as the visitors ran rampant on the Highveld.
It was a magnificent first-half performance by the Wellington-based that set up the demolition.
The New Zealanders scored five tries before half-time to turn 36-5 ahead and after a spell of second half dominance by the South Africans, the visitors finished strongly.
The Hurricanes succeeded on an Ellis Park stadium pitch that cut up badly in places, forcing ground staff to intervene during the match and make temporary repairs.
It was the Hurricanes' second biggest win of the season, after a 35-point drubbing of Australian side the Western Force and the Lions' heaviest defeat.
Winning with a bonus point thanks to a 7-3 try count, the Hurricanes stayed third in the New Zealand conference and on course for a quarterfinal place.
Despite being overwhelmed, the Lions stayed top of the Africa Two standings, five points above fellow South African side the Sharks.
Hurricanes' dominated the breakdowns and scrums during the first half and were helped by two gift tries after Lions' passes were intercepted.
Wings Cory Jane and Julian Savea scored two tries each and centres Matt Proctor and Vince Aso and prop Reg Goodes one each for the 2015 Super Rugby runners-up.
Flyhalf Beauden Barrett gave a near flawless goal-kicking exhibition, slotting six conversions and a penalty from eight shots.
Hooker Armand van der Merwe, centre Lionel Mapoe and flank Jaco Kriel scored a try each for the Lions and flyhalf Elton Jantjies slotted one conversion.
Jantjies, favourite to be the South Africa playmaker in a three-Test home series against Ireland during June, was below par and retired injured on 55 minutes.
After early Lions' pressure, the floodgates opened on 11 minutes when superb handling between backs and forward sent Savea over and Barrett converted.
Proctor intercepted a careless pass from Lions skipper and No. 8 Warren Whiteley to dot down unopposed and Barrett added the extra points again.
A Jane try was converted by Barrett, who also kicked a penalty for a 24-0 lead after 27 minutes.
Van der Merwe scored a try off a driving maul for the Lions only for the Wellington outfit to cross the try-line twice more before half-time via Jane and Goodes with Barrett converting the first.
Mapoe and Kriel tries narrowed the gap to 36-17 before the Hurricanes stamped their authority again and Aso and Savea scored converted tries.
Man of the match: Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel, Armand van der Merwe and Franco Mostert were all good value for the Lions. You can nominate just about the entire Hurricanes team, but the real difference was in the cohesive effort of the Hurricanes pack as a unit and how they blew the Lions away in the opening half. That is why they get our award.
The scorers:
For the Lions:
Tries: Van der Merwe, Mapoe, Kriel
Con: Jantjies
For the Hurricanes:
Tries: J Savea 2, Proctor, Jane 2, Goodes, Aso
Cons: Barrett 6
Pen: Barrett
Teams:
Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 John-Wessel Bell, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Hurricanes: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reg Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 James Marshall, 23 Willis Halaholo.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Ben Crouse
TMO: Johan Greeff
