The Hurricanes took an 11-point win over the Waratahs on Saturday night in a match that will have big ramifications for the finals hopes of both teams.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Waratahs 17
Hurricanes 28
The Waratahs and Hurricanes will do battle in Sydney tonight in what has shaped up to be a vital matchup for both sides with finals contention on the line. Join The Roar for all the thrilling live highlights and action from 7:45pm (AEST).
Both sides find themselves teetering on the edge of elimination, with one loss potentially ending their campaign.
The Waratahs have been fighting head-to-head with the Brumbies for top spot in the Australian conference, and a loss for the later last night means the door is wide open for the NSW side to take the lead.
With the Brumbies holding one more win and both sides on equal points, the Tahs need to win and outscore them to make top spot their own.
The Hurricanes sit in the middle of a stacked New Zealand conference, holding on to a wild-card spot in the race for the finals. A loss tonight could not only see them leapfrogged by the Highlanders in the standings, but also turn next week’s final game into a do or die situation.
Historically, the Tahs and Canes are even-Steven, holding 10 wins a piece over each other, however, it’s the Waratahs that have taken the spoils in the last two encounters and six of the last eight.
Team News
Plenty of changes, alterations and swaps all over the park for both sides, with coaches dealing with returning players and injuries.
Waratahs stalwart Wycliff Palu has been named in the side, slotting in at No.8 in a slightly altered forward pack.
Dave Dennis moves into the second row with Dean Mumm being shuffled across to flanker, meaning Jack Dempsey gets demoted to the reserves bench to start the game.
Into the back line and it’s Wallaby Nick Phipps who returns to the starting 15 at halfback, swapping with Matt Lucas who nabbed the position last week.
Along with Lucas, Reece Robinson also shifts to the bench, making way for Matt Carraro to start the game on the wing.
Mumm will play his 100th Super Rugby game, bringing up the century in his eighth season for the Waratahs. Matt Carraro will also be celebrating his 50th cap.
For the Canes, coach Chris Boyd has been forced to makes some changes with injuries to Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (broken arm) and Vince Aso (calf strain).
Chris Eves will replace Toomaga-Allen at tight head prop and Aso will be swapped out for Chris Boyd in the centres.
Ngani Laumape returns to the reserves after recovering from a groin strain, alongside Ben May who will also warm the bench for the start of the game.
Prediction
This is a tight one to call. Both sides have made plenty of changes and are in desperate need of a win to solidify a spot in the finals.
I’m tempted to lean towards the Canes on this one simply because they’ve played much better than the Tahs for most of the season, but I think the home side can steal the win.
A hungry and desperate Waratahs can win with this one in a very tight affair.
Waratahs to win by 4
Newport
Guest
check out the photo on the NZ rugby site. Definite citing, when are you allow to a) grab someone in a headlock b) make contact with oppositions face? http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81949413/hurricanes-need-not-fear-any-super-rugby-foes
Newport
Guest
A head high is not always a yellow card. Although a stiff arm is more of a yellow card. check the photo on the NZ rugby site. Not sure why someone isn't cited. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/81949413/hurricanes-need-not-fear-any-super-rugby-foes
wardad
Guest
Best Aussie team this weekend if it helps mate.
wardad
Guest
When you have guys like Horan available why go near Kearns ? Kearns made fun of a disabled Wallaby fan in 2011 which ranks him pretty low for me.
Ian
Guest
Wow!! Main difference in rugby across the Tasman? In NZ the fans wake up Sunday morning, bacon and eggs for breakfast, enjoy the sports news, have a cruizy day, and reflect on being consecutive World Cup Champions. In Aust, wake up bitter, stew all day, spend hours writing excuses for our teams, prepare for it all again next week. Looking forward to the play offs? I am.
BluesMan
Guest
Pretty much
ThugbyFan
Guest
Hi Chucked, what happened to your other eye? "Foley was first tackled about 10 metres out legally by Barrett about 10m out." Since when has an arm around the neck been legal? Oh that's right, when its a Kiwi arm! silly me! "I believe Eaves reached around Barratt to hold the player up." Well you can believe all you like. Some people believe in pixies and fairies too. And like them, you are dead WRONG. Better chuck in your one eye bro. You are imagining things. :)
ThugbyFan
Guest
I.Folou only saw the ball once in the 1st half and then was swamped. The 2nd half he put in a pretty good game. I seem to recall Folou tearing the Chiefs to teeny weenie pieces a few games back, and he wasn't too shabby against the Crusaders either, even if the Tahs got belted. If Jockey thinks he goes missing against the MIGHTY kiwi sides methinks Jockey has fallen off one too many horses. :)
ThugbyFan
Guest
I was at the match and I can assure you that Pollock refereed as if he was a Kiwi. wait.................................... :) My major gripe with Pollock was he pinged NSW a couple of times for laying in the ruck (which was correct) but every 2-3rd breakdown there was a Canes player laying on the ground between the ruck + ball and the halfback, with never a penalty given. Often this is where a referee can affect a result, not from the penalties he gives but from the penalties that he doesn't give. A fine example was C.Joubert in the 2nd test match against England. England players all over the ruck, hands all over the ball or even out and grabbing N.Phipps; and there is Joubert standing like a statue to appease the Old Farts Club, aka IRB/WR. Anyway after that whinge, the card for Halaholo was well deserved, please no one-eyed excuses, it was a stiff arm aimed at the head = Off. Similarly T.Naiyaravoro's yellow was well deserved and tbh I thought it should have been a red. When will these blokes learn all they have to do is stand back, allow the catcher to come back to planet Earth then cream him with a ball and all tackle. TN could have easily thrown B.Barrett with ball over the sideline and earned a lineout throw for his team, instead he clumsily walked right into the player. There should also have been a yellow card for the neck wrench of B.Foley by TWO players, Pollock choose to just give a penalty there which says to players, "Pull their friggin heads off if I am referee for your match, she's apples bro!" That being said, the main difference between the teams was the Tahs had absolutely NO kicking game whereas the Canes pushed them back and under pressure with smart kicking for the whole match. Both sides have damn good attacks and defence (3 tries to 2 is pretty even there), Canes much better lineout, scrums about even, Canes slightly better at the rucks but light years ahead in field kicking. B.Foley has really lost his mojo. His field kicking is pretty abysmal and he really has no concept of kicking to empty space and putting pressure on opposition defences. I think he knows it too, and is trying too hard to make it right but instead messing it up even more. He was terrible in the England tests and is one prime reason why the WB, with a backline to die for, lost 3-blot. A good example in this match was about the 34th minute, Foley is 12-15m from his try line, about 10m from his left side touch line. Phipps passes the ball for a clearing kick. Canes know this and have shunted 2 blokes back on that side, with their other backs standing up for rush defence across the park. A quick look shows that there is no-one behind the Canes line on Foley's right side. A smart play would be a 30m kick over the Canes' defence line and to his right side of the field. With the ball rolling it would make it a race between the Tahs and Canes to the ball, it could even end as a Tahs try. Instead Foley does another awful kick to his left and not out, it goes straight to a Canes' player and Canes attack 35m out from broken play, their most lethal form of attack thus putting more defence for the Tahs. And what is really sad is M.Cheika will always select B.Foley at 5/8. All aspiring 5/8 in Australia should be sent to school to learn to select where is the empty space and how to punt a ball right there. Am sick of this "close eyes, BOOT and hope" rubbish. If Foley needs a rest, then CLL should start at 5/8 for a couple of RC matches.
Darren
Guest
Can we please stop harping back to the World Cup "success". As someone already pointed out, we got there via a lucky penalty against Scotland thus masking serious shortcomings in selections, coaching and attitude. Not likely to improve given the mountain of points scored against Oz teams this round. And seriously, how can we get rid of the puerile rankings from the boofhead Kearns? An online petition? Storm Foxtel HQ? Or maybe he's what Australian rugby deserves.
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
Hi Connor - your explanation is ACCEPTED - and thank you, and yes I agree, the ilk and likes of Clarkey and Kearnsey (jeez do Aussies do that to everyone's names) cast a bad light on Aussie rugby.
Connor Bennett
Editor
My prediction was that it was a tight one to call. The Tahs were on a roll in the second half of a season only losing one game from seven I think it was, and they have a decent record against the Canes as well as playing at home, hence why I leant towards them, not because of an Aussie bias. As for Kearns on commentary, I absolutely agree with you, and I've noticed he's been especially poor with one sided judgement in the past few weeks, it's a shame because it puts aussie rugby in a bad light.
North south
Guest
Beating the Waratahs is real easy, keep the play away from Folau and you win. Same with the wallabies
Aucklandlaurie
Guest
that was nine months ago.
ebop
Guest
I thought the Tahs winger was a prop, he fat
Whakaata
Guest
I'm pretty sure a Tahs player was penalised early in the second 40 for a head high and he wasn't carded....
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Hey, what's wrong with Auckland!! ... *S*
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
Fellow, Follow, Fullah, Fellau, Follau,,,oh FOLAU....he should go to the NH and learn how to play...the biggest charade playing the game
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
in 2027...
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
and you are a sour loser