Stand-in Western Force five-eighth James Stannard put in the best performance of his career but it was to no avail as the Hurricanes came from behind to snatch a thrilling 34-28 Super Rugby bonus-point win at Palmerston North on Friday.
The injury-hit Force looked set for victory when Cameron Shepherd’s touchline penalty in the 67th minute gave the visitors a surprise 28-20 lead.
But Hurricanes five-eighth Aaron Cruden, who nailed all six of his kicks on goal, inspired a stirring turnaround, with a series of sublime offloads in the tackle setting up the last two tries of the match.
His first dish off set up lock James Broadhurst in the 71st minute, while his second resulted in fullback Cory Jane barging over for the match-winning try just minutes before full-time.
All Blacks inside centre Ma’a Nonu had earlier bagged a brace, while for the Force it was Shepherd, Ben McCalman and Rory Sidey who scored tries.
The Force limped into the match without almost half of their first-choice backline, with scrumhalf Brett Sheehan, five-eighth Willie Ripia and inside centre James O’Connor all missing through injury.
But stand-in flyhalf Stannard, who normally plays scrumhalf, was sensational throughout, with his darting runs and deft passes helping set up two of the Force’s three tries.
His partner in crime Mark Swanepoel, who entered the match with just one cap to his name, was also a strong contributor at scrumhalf.
“I thought given Swanepoel and Stannard trained on Wednesday for the first time together, I thought they were very good and I thought the team rallied around them and supported them exceptionally well,” Force coach Richard Graham said after the match.
Nonu scored the first try of the night after 13 minutes but from there it was the Force who took control, with skipper Nathan Sharpe, winger David Smith and Stannard prominent in the first half.
Shepherd closed the margin to 7-6 when he kicked truly in the 18th minute, and the Force hit the lead five minutes later when Shepherd’s cut-out pass opened the door for Sidey to touch down.
In the 32nd minute, the Force strung together 11 phases of play before Stannard’s no-look inside ball to Shepherd cleared the path for the Force fullback to power over, giving the visitors a handy 18-10 half-time lead.
Nonu bagged his second shortly after the break but a opportunistic break by Stannard in the 57th minute followed by a smart offload gifted a try to McCalman.
But from there it was the Cruden show as the Hurricanes playmaker dished off a number of magical passes to help his team steal victory.
“Very disappointing,” a shattered Sharpe said after the match.
“I thought James Stannard and Swanny (Swanepoel) were fantastic tonight.
“The boys came on and did a fantastic job.
“For 77 minutes we played reasonably well but in the last three minutes we let them in.
“A lot of things worked well for us tonight. But when they got down the other end of the field they scored points, and that’s the telling stat I think.”
AndyS
Guest
Why is that, because a NZ team near full strength and at home only just managed to tip a struggling Aus team missing the bulk of its backline..?
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
Good teams win close games. Good teams make the ref and the rub of the green irrelevant.......if not in a game, then certainly over the season. Force just have a way to go before maturing.......copy the Crusdaers if you want a template.
allblackfan
Guest
This game to me summed up why the S15 format is being criticised by SA and NZ officials/followers.
AndyS
Guest
No kidding! Wasn't it Lam having a whinge just last week about Keith Brown, and Joseph having a bleat a couple of weeks ago after the match against the Blues? At least it is just the public making comment, not Sharpe or Graham...
johnny-boy
Guest
Kiwis only complain about the ref once every 4 years ? - you're killing me :)
Harry
Guest
Wayne Barnes.
Jerry
Guest
So once every 4 years instead of every week of Super Rugby and every time the Wallabies lose?
johnny-boy
Guest
Sympathies Force - keeping gutsing it out boys - it's great for Australian rugby
johnny-boy
Guest
NZ team loses World Cup - New Zealanders blame the ref - same record
Stu
Guest
Stannard did a great impression of larkham circa 1998. His inside ball to shepherd after 18 phases so reminded me of the try that burke scored off larkham in the 2nd Bledisloe of 1998. I think he should really think off moving to a 10 role - great to watch
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Grow up and accept that Australian side actually do lose game all by themselves
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Well it really depends how you watch the game - to me the ref let the force get all the 50/50's in the 1st half and certainly looked as though he was trying to be mindful of not wanting to look as though he was a kiwi favouring an NZ side - he gave the hurricanes nothing The force did not lose the game because of the ref - they are an average team who were beaten by an average team - who in the end lost because Curden ripped them apart - but it is a std Aust response on here - if an Aust side loses it's down to the ref and once again It is not factual
Ash
Guest
Glen Jackson was the assistant referee who gave all the lopsided calls to the referee in the Reds vs Hurricanes game. Its of no surprise the same thing happened in this game. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Glenn Condell
Guest
Look, sometimes a team cops more than it's fair share of poor decisions, sometimes it lasts a while. I carry no torch for the Force but they have been dudded so many times this year I have lost count. You don't hear Sharpe or the players or the coach AFAIK carry on about it, but it is palpably true if you have been watching them. No conspiracy theory, it is the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, but it's their turn for some luck in the 'either way' decision dept.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Aust team loses - blame the ref ... Time to change the record
Nick Logan
Guest
Sevens program is really paying off for the provinces. They deserve more support! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Invictus
Guest
Stannard and Swanepoel - where have you been all season?? Welcome back Cam Sheppard! David Smith's best game also. Thought Longbottom went well in the front row. Definitiely a natural LH and should probably specialise to reach his potential. On losing in the last 5 mins - in this game it is probably due to the backs lacking combination, particularly the centres in defense, and match fitness (Swanepoel's service fell away towards the end as he tired etc). The ref was also a factor - ie the canes got more of the 50/50 calls, particularly as the game went on.
Harry
Guest
Anyway congrats to the Forcce for ditching their conservative game plan. A lot better performance. Thought the two rookie halfs were superb.
Harry
Guest
As I said above, its not the sole reason, but gee they get the rough end of the pineapple from the ref's. Doesn't help at all.
Harry
Guest
‘Thought the ref was too quick in closing off the game in the way he did though..’ Me three. As I said last night, once again the Force come out on the wrong side of the ref's interpretations. the Canes -knowing the only way the Force could win was to score a try - repeatedly dived in, infringed and killed the ball and also yelled and waved their arms about pressuring the (kiwi) ref (in his 1st S15 game) to call it over. It should have been penalty advantage on at least two occassions in that last play before the blowup. In the meantime there were several occassions when IMO Pocock got legitimate turnovers but the ref blew him.