The Hurricanes blew away the Cheetahs 61-7 with a nine-try romp in Round 13 of Super Rugby at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Hurricanes 61
Cheetahs 7
The Hurricanes host the Cheetahs in Round 13 of Super Rugby. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 5:35pm AEST.
The Cheetahs have this year lived up to its anatomy – they can only growl, which is nowhere near enough to put their opposition away.
With the likes of Adriaan Strauss and Willie Le Roux gone, the struggling Bloemfontein-based Super Rugby side is fodder to just about any of the 18 teams in the competition.
If the 50-32 loss to the Blues last weekend was bad enough, the mismatch against Hurricanes on Saturday would be worse.
What should be frightening for Cheetahs is the fact the hosts will be licking their wounds after a disappointing loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch – a dogfight which either side could have won.
Yes the Cheetahs have the best defensive lineout in the competition but that sounds like the proverb: “One swallow does not a summer make”.
Playing New Zealand sides away from home is as bad as it gets.
Their nerveless control of the ball as if the smallest of errors could result in defeat is what sets them apart from the Australian and South African teams.
The Hurricanes have the best-attacking weapons in world rugby in Beauden Barrett and midfield back Ngani Laumape who has made a seamless transition from the Warriors.
By comparison, the Cheetahs can be menacing with their lineout maul and have a knack for starting and finishing strongly but nothing to show for in between.
It’s that period of fits and starts they must improve on going forward.
If the Cheetahs can make those improvements by Saturday, there’s no reason why they cannot run the Hurricanes ragged.
In 2012, they stunned the hosts 47-38 at Westpac Stadium which ended the Hurricanes’ chances of making the playoffs.
While that victory may not be replicated this weekend, a decent contest will suffice.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 5:35pm AEST.
Old Bugger
Guest
Congrats Digsy to your team....that was clinically lethal by the Canes. I thought Lam had some pace but goodness me, he is electrifying and huge. Keep going like that and he could also, draw Hansen and Co's attention. But I take my hat off to Laumape & Aso - absolutely dynamic those two and how Crotty and Co kept them quiet last week, has to be a lesson for the Canes remaining opposition. Finally, a solid Canes pack prepared to do the hard yards for their backs and didn't the back-line, repay that graft. The player depth in NZ rugby, is just unbelievable and every NZ side, has been methodically introducing new players onto the SR stage, with absolute ease and transparency. At the mo, from what we are witnessing, there are players who are starting to really hit their straps, as the comp creeps toward, the June break. The ABs may have an injury list atm but gee, players who are on the fringe of selection, are certainly making their presence be noticed. I really do have my doubts if Hansen & Co, are concerned at all as we head into June. At least, that's just my take after what i've seen, last night and tonight.
Machpants
Roar Guru
Cheetahs fell of badly in second half and canes made the most of it. Poor decision making and accuracy was duly punished
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
» Click here to read the full match report Game is over with a resounding win to the Hurricanes 61-7
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
TRY: 73rd minute.. substitute Leni Apisai pounces off a loose ball from a lineout 5m from the Cheetahs try line. Turning into a bit of a hammering now. 61-7 with 5 minutes to go
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
TRY 69th minute to substitute Ben Lam, his first for the season, after another counter attack off a Cheetahs' foray into the Hurricanes' half. Hosts push their lead to 56-7
Jamez
Guest
Cheetahs are terrible, Good thing we have a neutral ref here. ;-)
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
65th minute: Beware- another Hurricanes' scrum inside the Cheetahs' half.
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
61st minute TRY. Another brilliant move by the Hurricanes' centre duo from a scrum in their own half. A piercing run by Laumape sets up Vince Aso for another try. Score is now 49-7
Cadfael
Roar Guru
A bit of "how's your father" there.
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
55th minute: Ardie Savea crashes over from a set piece move but is held up. 5m scrum for the hosts. Difficult to defence from this position. TRY to Jeff Toomaga-Allen under the post. Conversion successful. Score 42-7
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
51st minute: Niel Marais powers to the tryline but is held up. Cheetahs scrum 5m away but a big scrum from the hosts and a counter attack involving Perenara, Jordie Barrett and Ben Lam but luckily the last pass eas intercepted metres away from the Cheetahs tryline
Nick Cross
Guest
Diggercanes sure thing is 2/3 there...
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
Beau Barrett nails a wide conversion. Hosts leading 35-7. Cheetahs are falling off tackles and ill discipline is creeping in as Hurricanes up the ante.
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
TRY Hurricanes' centres strike. Vince Aso touches down in the corner
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
45th minute TRY to Hurricanes captain TJ Perenara. Referee Nic Berry loses patience with repeated infringements and gives a yellow card to Cheetahs' hooker Elandre Huggett. Try converted. Hurricanes extend lead 28-7
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
41st minute: Hurricanes get a penalty and opts for a lineout and another drive. Cheetahs penalised for joining the maul incorrectly.
Machpants
Roar Guru
Pretty poor rugby by both sides. Canes are better but not exactly inspiring. They'll still romp it, especially over the last twenty
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
Second try to the Hurricanes. Scored by Ardie Savea who peeled off from a rolling maul and crashed over. Beau Barrett converts. Hosts leading 21-7 at half time.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Hi folks, hope everyone is watching the DiggerCanes flogging another endangered cat from Africa. Just turned on the tv and immediately see what I think should be more enforced in Rugby. At the 32 min mark, a ruck forms on the Hurricane's right side about 20m from the try line. The Hurricane prop #1 comes into the ruck ok (through the gate) and immediately belly flops onto the ruck. Surely to gawd that's a penalty so wtf don't referees blow it ? Not half time yet but looks like Canes by 30.
Imran Ali
Roar Rookie
37th minute: Cheetahs penalised for not rolling away in a tackle midway in their half. Hurricanes' No 10. Otere Black kicks in touch for a lineout.