The Hurricanes kept their faint Super Rugby playoff hopes alive when hooker Dane Coles scored a try four minutes after the final siren to snatch a 28-25 win over the Chiefs in Wellington on Friday night.
The Hurricanes need a host of upset results to follow to sneak into the top six at the end of the final round, but at least they gave themselves some chance with a shock victory over the competition leaders.
Coles’ 84th-minute try edged the Hurricanes home in a bruising affair after the Chiefs looked to have sewn up the Westpac Stadium encounter as they wound the clock down.
The Chiefs remain first on the overall table with 64 points after taking a bonus point for losing by less than seven points but now need the Rebels to stun the Stormers in Cape Town to stay there and ensure a home final if they make it that far.
The match delivered quality rugby right from kickoff.
Both teams showcased a stunning display of running rugby, with Chiefs halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow providing a clinical finish to the visitors’ high-octane start when he darted across in the third minute.
Julian Savea picked up the first of his two tries for the Hurricanes in the 12th minute after a lethal counterattack sparked by a Brad Shields turnover opened the way for the powerful All Blacks winger to dive over in the left corner.
Savea’s second came as the half-hour mark neared. The Hurricanes showed patience and accuracy in building phases and Savea – hunting for work at the ruck base – proved unstoppable from close range.
Barely three minutes later, the Hurricanes were down to 14 men after prop Ben May was judged to have lifted Chiefs centre Sonny Bill Williams in a dangerous tackle.
The Chiefs capitalised clinically with an Aaron Cruden penalty before prop Ben Tameifuna burrowed over to level the scores only for a late Beauden Barrett penalty to give the Hurricanes a narrow 18-15 lead at the break.
Aaron Cruden’s intercept try in the 58th minute looked to have been enough for the Chiefs to steal the win until the Hurricanes’ late assault on the Chiefs line paid dividends.
Jerry
Guest
Oh and one thing I will say is that I'm glad that the table has pretty much worked out that the teams with the most wins have qualified highest. I was critical of the bonus point system earlier in the week as it looked like the Reds might qualify lower (or not at all) than some sides with less wins than them. But it's worked out that the overall standings accurately reflect the number of wins each team has.
Jerry
Guest
I'm not implying anything other than that the Lions and Cheetahs aren't that good and that I don't like the conference system. No conspiracy, just inequality. But that's the system we've got, and there's some good semi match-ups next week so it's all just banter really.
You are implying conveniently.
Yes and I fully agree with you as I mentioned in my article earlier in the week "Super rugby conference system lacks credibility."
Jerry
Guest
They gave their all and both lost handily - that's kind of the point.
Yet they were both enjoyable to watch. Both the Cheetahs and Lions gave their all, so you might want to show them some respect.
Are you generalising or speaking to a speciific person here?
Jerry you are correct that the Cheetahs have been easy beats for the top three Franchises, but the Sharks didn't get two easy wins against the Lions, they got thumped in one and didn't even get a bonus point. So the Sharks benefitted 2 wins vs the Cheetahs, same as the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Hihglanders and Cheifs benefitted two wins from the Blues this year. The same applied to the Sharks last year. Yes the NZ coference is stronger than the SA conference, however it is by one team, the Cheetahs gained over 20 log points against foreign teams this season.
Jerry
Guest
I don't think anyone is complaining about Aus or SA having 5 teams, just that the conference system creates inequalities.
Well one game they lost due to a last minute penalty was against the Brumbies, but then excuses doesn't matter does it? How many games could have gone either way this season, NZ has had the benefit of 5 teams in Super Rugby since 1996, I never hear anyone complian about that. They also benefit from the equal share of broadcasting revenue, no one complains about that, OZ has only had 5 teams in Super rugby for two years, they don't complain about that, so we have three teams in the play offs this year, everyone benefits in some way, if we don't have three teams in the play offs next year, what will the complaint be then, we're boring?
You forget the Lions beat the Sharks two weeks ago, so the Sharks gained no benefit from the Lions. So the Sharks got into the play offs just the same way the NZ teams did. Winning two against one week conference team
Yeah, two weeks ago the Lions and Sharks conspired as well, problem was the Lions misread the script.
Jerry
Guest
Hey Royce & Steve - two SA teams matched up against the Lions and Cheetahs in the final round, both get 5 point wins out of it. Imagine my surprise.....
Demon Dez
Guest
Because come semifinal time (the last 4) there will be 2 NZ teams, 1 from SA and one from Aus.... figure it out!!
AndyS
Guest
Although, I imagine you'd be cheering pretty hard for the Rebels too...
AndyS
Guest
The wording is: Semi C: Rank 2 (Chiefs) v "Winner of match A or B with highest playoff ranking" The Brumbies might have saved them, but I think you can almost lock in the Chiefs vs the winner of the Crusaders match. As I posted last night, that kick to touch with 90 seconds on the clock is probably the stupidest kick I've seen on a rugby field, including Dunning's dropgoal.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
If the Cheetas lift against South African sides and also dominate most NZ sides why are the down the bottom of the table?? You may watch all games but are you watching with both eyes open?
katzilla
Roar Guru
NZ aren't gods gift to rugby? That comment reeks of insecurity. Why are some South Africans so insecure about their place in World Rugby? You guys offer so much to the world of rugby, have a bit more confidence.
Jerry
Guest
Rubbish - the Lions and Cheetahs lose far far more often than not. Both to SA and foreign opponents. And even if you accept what you say, it still means the conference system is advantageous to SA teams as the foreign sides get at most one crack at the 'easy points'.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Nope not determined by that. I checked the super XV website 2 weeks ago wondering this.