The Hurricanes have overcome off-field disruption to get their Super Rugby campaign back on track with a 29-14 bonus-point win over the lowly Reds in Wellington.
The Hurricanes stood down five players from the match for breaking a team curfew in Durban last week in the lead-up to a disappointing defeat against the Sharks.
Two of the replacements – wingers Wes Goosen and Jason Woodward, brought in for All Blacks Julian Savea and Cory Jane – scored three of the Hurricanes’ five tries on Saturday night, with Woodward bagging a brace.
There was a lack of fluency in the Hurricanes’ play but they did enough to secure a victory that creates a logjam at the top of the New Zealand conference.
They remain fourth in the conference, but they are now just one point below the three sides above them – the Crusaders, the Chiefs and the Highlanders.
The Reds, seeking just their third win of the season, showed plenty of endeavour.
They had a strong scrum and were competitive at the breakdown, but found it hard to break a tight defence.
They made most of the running in the opening spell, but their only reward was fullback Ayumu Goromaru’s two penalties.
The Hurricanes, despite a scratchy display in which discipline and ball security were issues, scored the game’s two first-half tries.
The opener went to Goosen, with the South African-born 20-year-old marking his Super Rugby debut by pulling in a pin-point Beauden Barrett kick and slipping a tackle to score.
The Hurricanes got their second after the Reds went a man down just on the halftime hooter, with loose forward Hendrik Tui yellow-carded for collapsing a maul.
From the penalty, the Hurricanes kicked for the corner and skipper Dane Coles finished off their line-out drive.
Goromaru reduced the margin to 12-9 early in the second half, but the Hurricanes took advantage of Tui’s absence to grab a third try, as Woodward pounced on a loose Reds pass.
The Queenslanders finally breached the Hurricanes defence and it came from a powerful run from wing Chris Feauai-Sautia, whose try made it a three-point game.
But when the Hurricanes managed to get a secure scrum, substitute midfielder Ngani Laumape crashed his way over.
After the full-time hooter, as the Reds went in search of a score that would give them a close-loss bonus point, Woodward grabbed a runaway intercept try.
AJ
Guest
Great game Liam Gill.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Same as the Blues if you saw that game. No real class in #9 & #10. Contrast that with the Highlanders.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I felt that the reds got a big hand up from the ref at turnover time with not being penalized anywhere near enough. Also their backs were terrible in attack and so they paid the ultimate price. The Hurricanes were terrible in the forwards particularly scrum time but better everywhere else. One of those rare occasions when the score truly did not reflect the closeness of the game.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
They got away with a lot of "turnovers" from illegal activities so evens itself out.
CUW
Guest
i think they seriously need to look at the goal kicking (or not) aspect of Barrett's game. this one did not cost them anying but already have lost a game becoz of his inaccuracy. on the other hand in the euro final last night, when dan carter missed the first kick the duty immediately wemnt to goose. ok , carter came with an injured leg but the fact is common sense prevailed and at least they got a few points. same was the caase in semi when the scrum half kicked for goal. now hurricanes do have two able kickers in their mix (maybe more but these are the ones i know) Woodward is a good kicker and used to be number one kicker for rebels a couple of years ago. otere black is a capable kicker and was kicking at under 20 level as far as i can recall. now how long is the hurricanes management team going to keep trusting barret. it is not as if he is improving. when MOUNGA lost the kicking sense , the crusaders got in touch with allblacks skills coach bryne and now he has shown a lot of improvement. something has to be done , else hurricanes will live to regrett.
PeterK
Roar Guru
the reds deserved more scrum penalties than what they got though.
Old Bugger
Guest
The Canes for whatever reason, had no physicality in this match. They didn't protect the ball-carrier or their tackled ball hence, they got a towelling in the ruck/turnovers. Simmons had a feast in the line-out and of course, the Reds scrum scored a couple of penalties, just to show who had, scrum dominance. The writing was on the wall for the Reds to have their fair share of ball but, for a couple of bad passes/bad catching attempts, the scoreline in that first half could've been embarrassing, against the Canes. As it was, the side that had all the ball, simply didn't know how to execute and turn that advantage, into points. The Canes IMO, will have to find that physicality they showed against the Lions 2 weeks ago because I suggest, it went awol last week against the Sharks and very nearly, went awol this week, against the Reds. If they don't find it, then their luck may very well run out in 2weeks time, against the Landers. Don't know what's really happening in the Canes change room apart from the suspended quintet but, the past few weeks must have dented the enthusiasm, of a few supporters because even the game attendance last night, looked like it was on a hiding to nothing. Still, a 2week break can do wonders, for rebuilding and recharging a team's belief so, good luck to Digger & Co, with their team's run, up the home straight.
Hello
Roar Rookie
I thought the reds forwards deserved to be closer on the scoreboard and the reds backs deserved to cop a hiding. There seems to be a real lack of anything in the backs
peter hughes
Guest
Lucky for the Reds the Canes were way under strength :)
ben
Guest
Bit of a tough watch that game but 5pts is 5pts. Reds offer nothing on attack. Score flattered them a bit imo. 5 tries to 1 is a hiding really but whats happened to Barretts goal kicking? Canes looked lethargic at times. The bye week looks like its come at the right time.
moaman
Roar Guru
I thought this game was poor quality--until I saw the Blues just now.Wow.Truly awful. The gap in standard between teams like the Highlanders & Crusaders to some of these other teams has looked very wide this weekend.Hopefully an aberration.
Vic rugby
Guest
Playing the reds is better than a bye. Easy points . Like when the first grade play 2nd and 3rd grade teams for practice. Good warm up no real threat