Hurricanes send powerful message with dominant win over Chiefs
The unbeaten Hurricanes hosted the preseason title favourites in the Chiefs in what promised to be the biggest clash of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season to date in round eight.
The contest certainly lived up to that billing as well, as Wellington fans were treated to 80 minutes of brilliance from their team which extended their unbeaten run to seven in 2024.
The Chiefs’ defensive line was organised but the Hurricanes’ big ball runners were winning the collision area and securing the breakdown well early.
The Hurricanes’ powerful front row won the first scrum battle of the game, handing Brett Cameron a chance to open the scoring. The first five-eighth claimed the three points for the early lead.
Strong and dynamic carries from Brayden Iose, Ruben Love, Josh Moorby and Jordie Barrett all tested the Chiefs’ defence in the opening 10 minutes, and while the visitors hung on, it was looking dangerous.
Jordie Barrett’s decision-making and skillset at the line was impressive early, as was the Hurricanes’ front row, which won further penalties in the second, third and fourth scrums of the match, which all happened in quick succession.
Off the back of the ensuing scrum, Iose picked the ball up and was stopped just inches shy of the chalk, only for TJ Perenara to come in and opportunistically push the ball forward for the first try of the game.
The hosts wouldn’t be ahead by 10 for long though as Damian McKenzie faked a kick that opened up a gap for Rameka Poihipi to run onto, and like any great halfback, Cortez Ratima was waiting in support. The youngster had his pass knocked back by Brett Cameron and in an opportunistic moment of his own, recollected the loose ball and found himself running under the posts.
The Hurricanes’ phase play continued to be relentless and dominant, with forwards and backs alike providing deft touches and strong carries.
In one play, an Asafo Aumua try was reversed, Shaun Stevenson was taken from the field with a shoulder injury and Emoni Narawa was handed a yellow card for an offside infringement. Just a minute later, Iose launched off the back of another dominant scrum and landed over the try line. The score was then 17-7 with half an hour played.
The Hurricanes’ defence was impressive but their discipline was lacking and Damian McKenzie was able to chip away at that lead with a couple of penalties, sending the teams into the sheds with a 17-13 scoreline favouring the Hurricanes.
The Chiefs retained possession throughout scrappy exchanges to start the second half, with young No. 8 Wallace Sititi impressing with numerous carries that displayed agility and physicality. The play resulted in another penalty kick for McKenzie to make it a one-point game.
It looked to be a tale of two halves as the Chiefs furthered their momentum and found a rhythm on attack. Josh Ioane’s playmaking outside McKenzie came to the fore as Emoni Narawa was put away to score untouched.
The game opened up as the Hurricanes looked to fight their way back into the contest. The Chiefs’ lineout started to cause real havoc as Naitoa Ah Koui continued his fine work before being replaced with 25 minutes remaining.
The Hurricanes went back to their strength, phase play attack, and showed no shortage of confidence despite losing momentum. The offload game was ambitious and TJ Perenara stayed with the play, ready to receive the final pass which eventually came his way for the halfback to fly over the line and finish the play.
The Hurricanes’ forwards continued to play like the numbers on their backs were more of a mild suggestion than a rule, with exceptional skillsets on display across the park.
The cohesion, effort and skillset of the Hurricanes then produced a try for Kini Naholo with 13 minutes remaining and again four minutes later as Asafo Aumua bullied his way through a number of covering defenders.
The Hurricanes machine was firing on all cylinders as the lead was stretched to 36-23, where it would remain for the rest of the contest.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
4 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
4 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
4 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
96 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
96 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
96 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
96 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
96 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
96 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
96 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
96 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
96 Go to comments