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Hurricanes blow the Force away

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:29

Try scorer: Maa Nonu scores for the Canes

The Hurricanes, as was expected, had far too much fire power for the injury-ravaged Western Force and scored a comfortable 47-22 win over the men from Perth in their Super 14 showdown in Wellington on Saturday.

The seven-tries-to-three victory sees the Hurricanes move to the top of the standings - for at least a few hours.

However, it has to be remembered they faced a Force team missing players like André Pretorius (hamstring, out for the season), David Pocock (finger, six weeks), Richard Brown (shoulder, six weeks), Cameron Shepherd (thigh, six weeks), Nick Cummins (foot, three to four weeks), Mark Bartholomeusz (neck, one to two weeks) and Ryan Cross (shoulder).

But it was an impressive all-round performance from the Hurricanes, who showed skill and power and an ability to attack through both forwards and backs as well as to vary their point of attack. There were a few defensive lapses, but if they can tighten their defence, they could well develop into title contenders in this year's Super 14.

Their continuity wasn't perhaps as consistently good throughout the 80 minutes as they'd like, but for much of the game it was excellent as they built phases and their skilful handling and close support play was difficult for the Force to counter. They boast more than a few highly talented individuals and their teamwork was often a delight.

The Force get full marks for effort and resilience but in the end they were outgunned by their more experienced opponents.

In the third minute Force fullback James O'Connor opened the scoring with a penalty goal from 35 metres out and in front of the posts - a difficult kick into the wind - when tighthead Neemia Tialata strayed offside.

In the 10th minute Force captain Nathan Sharpe was penalised for offside and flyhalf Willie Ripia levelled the score with a penalty. It was longer than O'Connor's kick but easier with the wind behind him.

The game came alive in the 14th minute when Hurricanes inside centre Ma'a Nonu beat defenders through power and then skill down the left touchline. The Hurricanes moved the ball wide right and Tamati Ellison pulled three defenders onto himself before placing a perfectly weighted long, low kick into in-goal. Cory Jane fell on the ball to take the Hurricanes into an 8-3 lead. Ripia's conversion attempt was wide of the left upright.

When the Force were penalised at a scrum about 40 metres out, Ripia goaled to extend the lead to 11-3 after 18 minutes.

With their backs looking dangerous on attack, the Hurricanes scored their second try, again from a neatly placed kick into in-goal by Ellison, this time a long grubber. Left wing David Smith dived on the ball and Ripia converted to stretch the lead to 18-3 after 22 minutes.

The Force struck back a minute later from skilfully executed counter-attack. O'Connor's long pass created space and right wing Dane Haylett-Petty straightened and raced between two defenders to set up a brilliant try for centre Josh Tatupu, who showed great handling skills in gathering a pass behind him and crashing over in the corner.

O'Connor's conversion from the touchline was a fine kick into the wind but it hit the upright and then the crossbar and bounced the wrong way.

It was 18-8 with 14 minutes left in the half - a crucial score for the Force when the Hurricanes were threatening to open a big lead.

The Force had the better of the rest of the half but they were held up over the line and then O'Connor missed a long-range penalty attempt. The break came with the score still at 18-8.

The Hurricanes started the second half at great pace with impressive continuity from quick ruck ball and exemplary handling and support. Flank Michael Paterson rounded off a long sweeping movement to score near touch and the Hurricanes had extended their lead to 23-8 inside two minutes of the half. Ripia's conversion was wide.

David Smith scored his second try as the Hurricanes moved from the right touchline to the left and Nonu and Ellison drew defenders with their pace, elusive running and perfectly timed passes before the Force ran out of tacklers out wide and Smith was able to cross in the corner.

Again Ripia's kick was well wide of the posts but the home team led 28-8 with 25 minutes left to play.

The Force were still playing with real spirit though and when the Hurricanes were warned by referee Vinny Munro for repeated infringements near their tryline, the visitors attacked strongly and a superb skip pass from O'Connor put Haylett-Petty into sufficient space for him to dash across for a try a few metres in from touch.

O'Connor converted and the lead had been reduced to 28-15 with 19 minutes to play.

The Hurricanes came back with intent. Hayleytt-Petty was penalised for a late charge on David Smith, the Hurricanes opted for a scrum five metres out and from there Tialata powered his way over. Ripia again fluffed the conversion attempt (33-15).

Flyhalf prodigy Aaron Cruden replaced Ripia and with his first touch of the ball used his feet to beat a host of defenders with his elusive running. He passed to Nonu who scored under the posts and Weepu converted to take the game out of Force reach at 40-15 after 69 minutes.

It was all Hurricanes now as they attacked left and right, with David Smith, Nonu and Cruden prominent.

Tialata drove over the line again for what may well have been a try but the TMO was not able to see the grounding. From the five metre scrum, replacement No.8 Rodney So'oialo fed replacement scrumhalf Tyson Keats who scored under the posts. Cruden converted and the Hurricanes led 47-15 with seven minutes left.

The Force showed they may lack experience but that there is certainly no lack of fighting spirit as they came back to score the last try of the game.

Running from inside their own half, the Force scored their third try when Tatupu carried the ball a long way before feeding replacement scrum half Chris O'Young on his inside. O'Young scored and O'Connor converted to reduce the final deficit to 47-22.

Skipper Nathan Sharpe commented after the game that the Force missed too many one-on-one tackles but he was pleased with the performance of the youngsters who had played little or no Super 14 rugby.

He felt the Force would regroup and come back - not easy with the number of injuries they've had to experienced, key players, but their novices are talented and may develop into players who can make an impact. Certainly, they offer commendable spirit and strong effort.

Man of the Match: It was a game in which pretty much every Hurricanes player will have been happy with his performance and Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Ma'a Nonu and David Smith were all especially impressive. For the Force James O'Connor was a star in defeat - to shine at fullback in a well beaten team is no mean feat. But the Man of the Match must be Tamati Ellison. He is not only quick, but showed wonderful skill with hands and feet as well. When the game was tight he set up two tries with perfectly placed attacking kicks. His workrate is exemplary and he popped up all over the field to add continuity to the Hurricanes' attack.

The scorers:

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Jane, Smith 2, Paterson, Tialata, Nonu, Keats
Cons: Ripia, Weepu, Cruden
Pens: Ripia 2

For the Western Force:
Tries: Tatupu, Haylett-Petty, O'Young
Cons: O'Connor 2
Pen: O'Connor

Teams:

Western Force: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Josh Tatupu, 11 Haig Sare, 10 Sam Harris, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Sam Wykes, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Pek Cowan, 1 Matt Dunning.
Replacements:  16 Ryan Tyrrell, 17 Nic Henderson, 18 Richard Stanford, 19 Luke Jones, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Stefano Hunt, 22 Joelin Rapana.

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 David Smith, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Rodney So'oialo, 19 Karl Lowe, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Andre Taylor.

Referee: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

By Len Kaplan

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