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Hurricanes vs Brumbies takes: Wild Love concerning, Dearns signing of the year
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The attacking juggernaut that is the Hurricanes got back on track in Super Round with a 45-12 win over the Brumbies on Saturday afternoon.
Averaging over 40 points and six tries a game, the best mark in the competition, they put the Brumbies to the sword with four tries to Fehi Fineanganofo a highlight.
Here are quick takes following the Canes’ big win in Christchurch.
Hurricanes back on top
The Hurricanes re-established their title credentials with a resounding win over the hapless Brumbies who were outplayed in every facet of the game under the new roof in Christchurch.
The Canes pack dismantled the Brumbies forwards and it was another slick showing from the competition’s best backline, who put on a clinic in intricate back play to pick apart the Brumbies. Star wing Fehi Fineanganofo had four tries, set up Billy Proctor and Jordie Barrett for three of them. Moorby on the opposite wing bagged two.
The Hurricanes are still the benchmark team in the competition this year, sorry Chiefs. The Hamilton loss was a speed bump but the Canes are back in cruise control.
Wild Love not at the All Black standard
The Hurricanes had the game in the bag, but Ruben Love’s wild second 40 won’t do him any selection favours when it comes to starting in the No.10 black jersey. That kind of showing late in that game cannot be produced for the All Blacks.
Situationally, the game was done, but throwing behind the back balls leading to multiple turnovers was careless. After the line break the flick pass attempt for Roigard was fair, the one in the backfield to Jordie Barrett was not. Another tunnel ball attempt left Barrett scrambling with a loose ball, saved by advantage. Covering a chip kick in the backfield he coughed it up straight back to Corey Toole with a one hand grab.
Maybe there was enough cushion to be flashy, but on the other hand it is the kind of recklessness that will lose Test matches. That’s not how to close out games. It lacked ruthlessness from the main game driver who to that point had put together a great performance.
Brumbies first half horror show
The Brumbies did not do themselves any favours in the first half, with a host of poor plays wasting opportunities. A mix of low IQ decisions and poor execution became a fatal mix and helped dig a 19-point hole.
They lost two lineout throws inside the Hurricanes’ 10m, pinched by Caleb Delany and Warner Dearns. Dearns pinched his second steal early in the second half with the Brumbies again pressed inside the 22. A kick from Ryan Lonergan inside the Canes half went dead, Tom Wright took a quick tap from a penalty before kicking it away, while flyhalf Declan Meredith overcooked not one but two touchfinders kicking to the corner. It was enough for coach Stephen Larkham to pull Meredith and put Wallaby Tane Edmed on at half-time.
In the key moments that mattered the Brumbies were a no-show, while the Hurricanes didn’t need a second invitation to score at the other end with their 22 entries.
Record-setting Fehi on track to break more
The competition’s top try scorer continued his blazing form, scoring his third hat-trick of the year inside the first 40 minutes, and added his fourth midway through the second. He became the first ever player to score three hat-tricks in a Super Rugby season. The explosive No.11 is now in sight of the Super Rugby season record (16) held by Ben Lam and Joe Roff, currently on 14 tries with five rounds remaining in the regular season.
Fineanganofo’s left foot step is deadly out on the left wing, with too much space and sliding defenders, he is able to cut back and beat them with ease. Two of his tries came this way, with the other coming from a brilliant set piece strike that got Fineanganofo 1-on-1 with Meredith who was oddly defending at centre. His fourth was a runaway from a kick ahead where he out sprinted Edmed to score, holding the ball in one hand above his head like a prized scalp.
It is well documented that he is headed to the Newcastle Red Bulls, but he will leave his mark in Super Rugby history with three more tries.
Warner Dearns is the signing of the season
No New Zealand franchise has needed a world class lock like the Hurricanes. They have been starved of All Black second rowers for what seems like eternity. While Dearns will not wear black, he is the best in the competition right now and that’s good enough for the Canes.
The Japan international has been a revelation for the Hurricanes, leading the competition with 11 lineout steals. He added two more against the Brumbies, both times from inside his own 22 which took points off the board. It’s those valuable involvements that make Dearns the signing of the year. The Hurricanes have a lineout weapon that turns the tables and prevents the team from having to defend their own line.
He’s a big lad that almost always wins gain line, while anchoring a brilliant lineout defence. For the Canes, who have all the other pieces, Dearns looks like the final piece of the puzzle and turned them into title contenders.
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