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Hurricanes blow Brumbies away

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:01

The Hurricanes outplayed the Brumbies in the hot sun at Porirua Park on Friday to record an impressive for a 26-5 win in their Super 14 pre-season match.

Outstanding defence and four terrific tries helped characterise a strong performance by the Hurricanes in front of a packed home crowd at the Porirua stadium just north of Wellington.

The Hurricanes ran in one try in the first half and three more in the second 40 minutes of play, while at the same time protecting their own tryline until late in the match when Brumbies replacement lock Sitaleki Tamani barged over for a consolation try five minutes before full-time.

The Hurricanes led 7-0 after half-an-hour through a Rico Gear try, after previously withstanding much Brumbies pressure at the other end of the field.

The Brumbies won the opening kick off and then spent almost the entire first quarter camped deep inside Hurricanes territory, but were thwarted by committed Hurricanes defence around the rucks and in midfield.

Hurricanes scrumhalf Piri Weepu denied them their clearest scoring opportunity when he knocked the ball out of Brumbies flank Henry Vanderglas's hands as he dived over the chalk to score.

The Hurricanes were nevertheless dangerous in broken play, with Gear almost scoring the game's opening try moments preceding Weepu's heroics, after a big tackle and turnover in midfield by local hero and centre Alipati Leiua and a kick ahead by hooker Ged Robinson.

But Gear put a foot in touch, as did right wing David Smith in another foray on the adjacent side of the field after linking up with fullback Andre Taylor, and Taylor himself shortly after the introduction of Ma'a Nonu as a replacement for inside centre Johnny Leota.

The first-half try to Gear eventually came after an attacking line-out inside the Brumbies' 22 and a lovely skip out pass by Nonu across the Brumbies' goalposts to Gear who sliced through off his wing to score. Flyhalf Willie Ripia added the extras to give the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead.

Replacement centre Tamati Ellison was almost the first to score after the interval, after another dangerous run by David Smith from an attacking scrum, but Smith's last pass to Ellison was pulled back for being forward.

Instead it was another replacement midfielder, Charlie Ngatai – now on for Nonu – who scored the Hurricanes' second try after a fantastic run up the grandstand touchline and chip and chase into the in-goal. Aaron Cruden converted for a 14-0 lead.

More attacking momentum by the Hurricanes led to their try to hooker Dane Coles, who was the recipient of a clever over the shoulder pass back infield by another All Black substitution Cory Jane.

Lock Jason Eaton brought up the Hurricanes' fourth try in the 70th minute, burrowing over from a well-worked line-out drive in the corner for a 26-0 lead.

The Brumbies were then finally rewarded for all their earlier efforts with Tamani's try five minutes later, the conversion from almost in front charged down.

The Hurricanes play their next Super 14 pre-season match against the Chiefs in Rotorua next weekend.

Scores:

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Gear, Ngatai, Coles, Eaton
Cons: Cruden 2, Ripia

For the Brumbies:
Try: Tamani

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 David Smith, 13 Alapati Leiua, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu (captain), 8 Nick Crosswell, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Michael Paterson, 3 John Schwalger, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Jacob Ellison.
Replacements - from: Dane Coles, Michael Bent, Daniel Ramsay, Scott Waldrom, Tyson Keats, Chris Eaton, Cory Jane, Charlie Ngatai, Neemia Tialata, Ma'a Nonu, Jason Eaton, Api Naiktatini, Aaron Cruden, Tamati Ellison.

Brumbies: 15 Matt Toomua, 14 Alfi Mafi, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 Henry Vanderglas, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Ben Hand, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Huia Edmonds, 1 Salesi Ma'afu.
Replacements - from: Anthony Hegarty, John Ulugia, Sitaleki Timani, Michael Hooper, Colby Faingaa, Patrick Phibbs, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Andrew Smith, Jesse Mogg.

Referee: Winnie Munro (New Zealand)

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