Hurricanes inside centre Vince Aso has crossed for four tries but only had two count as they beat Japan’s Sunwolves 43-15 in Wellington to move to the top of the Super Rugby standings.
Aso, who crossed in the 74th and 79th minutes on Friday, had two earlier tries ruled out by television match official Ben Skeen.
The first was chalked off for a marginal forward pass from Julian Savea and the second for a dangerous clear-out by Ardie Savea about 70m downfield.
Julian Savea, Finlay Christie, Reed Prinsep, Jordie Barrett and Brad Shields also scored for the home side, who moved to 32 points in the standings, two ahead of the Lions and three in front of the defending champion Canterbury Crusaders.
The Hurricanes, who had won their previous six games, only put the result beyond doubt in the final six minutes with three tries – two of which were scored by Aso.
The Sunwolves, who upset the Hurricanes’ flow, also dominated possession and territory but were unable to capitalise on their numerous opportunities.
They also caused havoc with the Hurricanes’ lineout but were constantly destroyed in the scrum, which accounted for two of the home side’s tries.
“She was a tough battle,” captain Brad Shields said.
“The Sunwolves showed up to play and … we had to defend for long periods of time. Our scramble (defence) was really good.”
After Aso’s first try was overturned in the third minute, Sunwolves captain Pieter Labuschagne finished off a series of pick and goes by his fellow forwards to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.
The Hurricanes’ scrum dominance, however, started to take its toll and Christie and Prinsep crossed courtesy of their stable attacking platform to give the hosts a 21-10 lead at the break.
Jordie Barrett scored an early second-half try to extend the advantage to 26-10 before Aso’s second disallowed try, which stemmed from a sweeping attacking move sparked by a Julian Savea burst.
It was overturned for supposed foul play by Savea’s brother Ardie.
The Sunwolves then virtually camped in the Hurricanes’ half but were unable to capitalise in the face of some superb defence from the home side.
Winger Kenki Fukuoka scored his side’s second try when he was the first to a speculative kick by Yutaka Nagare to reduce the deficit to 26-15 before Aso and Shields scored in the final six minutes to blow the score out.
“We suffocated them with possession but we just couldn’t get over the line so all credit to them,” Labuschagne said.
cuw
Guest
@ Taylorman am wondering - what will the All Blacks coaching staff make of Reiko playing at 12?? he seems like the little brother who went to play with the older cousins - wants to get involved but the big boys keep ignoring him.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Should never have been in the Competition in the first place, ~ their losses vindicate that theory!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Marty! You are a Psychic mate? ~ No need to worry about Ardie 'S' he'll be there when the whips are cracking and it was great to see him back after that awful rib job he picked up a few weeks ago, and great to see Julian playing well and among the tries with it! After watching the Canes' vs Sunwolves game, I reckon the way the Sunnies' played, they'd beat any Aussie team judging by that performance!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Ben Skeen, Jamie Nutbrown, Jaco Peyper, and Glen Jackson ~ Take a bow for absolutely ruining four games of rugby this weekend just gone!! Skeen should never be allowed near a TMO possie again! Nutbrown was just awful and ''offside crazy" Jaco Peyper did all he could to help the Brumbies over the line and his display was shocking to say the least! Glen Jackson was once a ''star'' Referee upcoming, now he's just an officious, substandard rubbish Referee and he was another Ref' who did all he could to get the Bulls over the line! Each of those games were absolutely dreadful borefests mainly because of the crap Refereeing in general and just not letting the games flow. They seem to be oblivious to the fact that people pay big bucks to watch the game whether it be by attending or on Fox and the last thing they want to see is rubbish like that! We all know that the Book of Laws is these days like a Journal of Law and the said Laws are so complex and difficult to understand which in turn just ruins the game as a spectacle, but there must surely be a ''give us a break'' thing that when they can as Adjudicators, use their heads and cut a bit of slack to let the game flow, it is grossly over adminstered right now! ,
richard
Guest
Thanks for the info.
Marty
Guest
Cane would have flattened him.
Ben
Guest
Yeah St Peters produced a few. I had the 1st xv there and had Brynn Hall Ben Lam Peter Saili Francis Saili. Pat Tuipulotu came after i left. St Peters also had Brad and Dylan Mika (passed away)
Taylorman
Guest
Still, 43-15 is still a thrashing, in any language.
richard
Guest
Another St.Peter's College boy,like myself.I was there 1977-82,a few years ahead of Pat Lam.And of course,Bernie McCahill and Hugh McGahan were part of one of our better First XV's.
Julz
Guest
Typical from a Sunwolves match. Competitive first half, one way traffic second half.
Wee Wally
Guest
What game were you watching? Thrashed indeed!! The Wolves could very easily have scored 3-4 more tries. The Horrorcanes defended well and eventually got on top but it was no walk in the park.
moaman
Guest
Ben...we could have done with some TMO intervention in '76 mate!
moaman
Guest
OB I had a gutful by HT and switched off--very rare occurrence for me but the game was a fizzer.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
It is a hard sell to talk about improvements when the Moondogs still have zero wins this season. But their performances against Saders and Canes looked for long periods as solid Super Rugby quality. With so many new players, new coaches, a minimal pre=season, it was always gonna be tough for them to come out flying. Also seems that JJ is settling more and more on an XV finally. He has found his spine players, .
Ben
Guest
Dead set OB....ive known Skeen since his days at St Peters College Akld and thats him all over..its not about the rugby. For Skeen its all about Skeen. I always cringe when i see him as TMO or as ref. I have no stats to back it up but after watching a million and one matches since the the 1970 AB tour to Sth Africa i would hazard a guess that Skeen intervenes as TMO more than any TMO since its inception.
Puff
Guest
Not a great spectacle, I felt the Canes would have been on fire after a week’s rest and playing at TBC. The encounter lost direction when Ben Skeen overplayed his TMO responsibilities, as a number of his interruptions were somewhat ordinary and if this is his standard bureaucratic endorsement of the rules, the entertainment aspect will diminish. To be fair the Sunwolves are playing a much more determined, aggressive, faster style of game which is a reflection of Jamie Joseph’s approach and TB / SH working on technique. I was impressed with their work ethic. The test for the Canes will be next week.
Old Bugger
Guest
Gees, I've never heard so much BS in a game, for yonks.....thank you Mr Skeen but in future, can NZR put you in the carpark cos atm, you certainly don't want to park yourself. In fact, Nutty should've shown some cohones and parked you instead. The Wolves are showing definite signs of improvement. Now, they just have to figure out how to play for 80mins so look out folks, with JJ and TB running the show, I suspect the Wolves will be a handful, next season. What a showboat you are Mr Skeen......you single-handedly turned a game, into a shame.
Johnny Boy
Guest
Come on, that's being harsh. Everybody misses tackles every now and again. Even GOAT Richie missed a few. Having said that, unless Savea bulks up a bit and gets more physical at the ruck and tackle, he will always be at best the second choice openside.
Ben
Guest
Dont call them bench players or reserves or subs anymore. Its a complete change in thought and theory. Crockett for example is the perfect example like Savea as to buying into your role for the team. They are "finishers" and Ardie has been a great finisher.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
....That 1 on 1 miss by Ardie was a shocker that Hansen wont forget quickly.... more like won't forgive....that's why he will always be a Bench player