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Chris Boyd summed it up as ‘the worst 40 minutes of football we’ve played in four years’ after the Hurricanes had just lost their third straight match, the first time under his watch that has happened.
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‘I don’t think there is any excuse, we just gave away too many penalties, allowed them territory. They would just kick to the corner and drive and we didn’t deal with that particularly well,’ he said.
‘It was a tough day at the office.’
The side that was flying high on a ten-game winning streak and perched atop the New Zealand conference is now looking to the drawing board after last night’s 24-12 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra. They are guaranteed playoff qualification but now face pressure from the rising Chiefs for a home quarterfinal.
That could prove material given the impracticality of the Super Rugby seeding process, which sees the fourth (Hurricanes) and fifth (Chiefs) seeds placed against each other, despite both having more wins and competition points than the second and third seeds.
Home ground advantage in that match is important, given how tough it is to win on the road in Kiwi derbies. The Hurricanes three-game skid has, in part, been because of this element. A trip to Christchurch to face the Crusaders was a wet weather nightmare and a visit to Dunedin against the high-octane Highlanders was too tall of an ask on the fast surface of Forsyth Barr.
The team’s ten-game winning streak was built on home soil, as they put away the Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs in convincing fashion. In fact, the Hurricanes are undefeated at home this season going 7-0, while on the road they are 3-4.
‘I’m sure if we look at the attitude, skills and the decisions it will be a combination of those three things but we just have to find some fire again,’ Boyd suggested as reasons for the form slump.
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The return of internationals Brad Shields, Beauden Barrett and Vaea Fifita next week should help, as well as a return to the familiarity of the Caketin for a clash against the Blues before a quarter-final preview against the Chiefs in Hamilton. That away derby will likely determine home ground advantage in the first edition of two back-to-back clashes against the Chiefs.
Captain TJ Perenara offered no excuses for the run of losses, but believes the side can improve by taking care of the ‘controllables’.
‘I just think we’re not playing great footy at the moment. We can control a lot of things out on the field that we aren’t doing well,” he said post-match.
That extends to off the field preparations, as Perenara proposed ‘stripping it back’ to how each individual, positional group and the team as a whole prepared during the week.
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They won’t have long to find an answer as destiny calls for a do-or-die finals clash against another high-powered Kiwi team. Whether they play that at home or away will be a big factor in whether this Hurricanes team will challenge for another title.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments