Hurricanes vs Cheetahs: Super Rugby live scores, blog

It’s only round five, but already this afternoon’s Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and the Cheetahs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington has a ‘dance of the desperate’ feel about it. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:35pm (AEDT).

The Hurricanes have had a torrid week; bottom of the table after their lacklustre performance against the Brumbies last Friday night.

Coach Mark Hammett has been under siege from the local media this week with some calling for his head.

That sentiment is understandable; the Hurricanes have lost their last eight matches in a row dating back to May 10, 2013 – this despite the fact they boast 13 international players in their squad.

The Hurricanes have made six changes to their team from this match. Some are injury enforced, while others are an attempt to breathe new life into their campaign.

In the forwards, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen returns at tight head prop pushing John Schwalger to the reserves, while a rejigged loose trio features starts for Ardie Savea and Faifili Levave.

Levave missed the last match with concussion while Savea is a bright young prospect who should add some much needed energy.

Jack Lamb, who has been the Hurricanes best this season, is unlucky not to start.

In the backs, Cory Jane has been ruled out with a broken nose handing Alapati Leiua a start on the left wing.

Hadleigh Parkes has recovered from a shoulder injury to replace Cardiff Vaega in the midfield while TJ Perenra is surprisingly dropped to the bench in favour of journeyman Chris Smylie. Hammett says Perenra needs to work on some “technical aspects.”

The Cheetahs, despite dropping three of their first four games have a more settled look about them.

Head coach Naka Drotske will be thrilled to have live-wire halfback Sarel Pretorius back in the starting line-up. Pretorius scored three tries for the Cheetahs in the 2011 game, to record the first hat-trick in teams’ history.

The back-three will also assume a different composition, with Raymond Rhule on the left-wing, Cornal Hendriks on the right-wing and Willie le Roux at fullback.

Drotske’s forward pack is unchanged and he will look for a strong effort from the tight-five, but especially from skipper Adriaan Strauss.

The Hurricanes have been meek up front this year and the Cheetahs might have an edge in the set-pieces. Of the last nine tries the Cheetahs have scored against the Hurricanes, six have been by the forwards and five by props.

However, matches between the Hurricanes and the Cheetahs haven’t exactly followed logic in the past. The 2011 match was one of the craziest in Super rugby history, ending with the Hurricanes sneaking a 50-47 victory.

The Cheetahs losing score of 47 is the third-highest in Super rugby history, after two Lions matches that ended with scores of 65-72 against the Chiefs in 2010 and 52-62 against the Bulls in 2004.

In 2012 the Hurricanes surrendered a 32-11 lead at home to lose 47-38.

What will happen today when the desperate dance?

Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:35pm (AEDT).