Canes make pre-season statement
REPORT: The Crusaders are not putting much value on their pre-season Super Rugby loss to the Hurricanes.
The Canes made a statement with their 27-24 win in their pre-season clash in Queenstown on Saturday.
However, in seven days when the two teams square off again in Dunedin in the opening weekend of Super Rugby Pacific, the Crusaders expect it to be a very different game.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson – who also saw his team lose 19-20 to the Highlanders last week – said he was “really happy” with the performance in Queenstown.
“Things change pretty quickly when there are points on the ladder,” he told stuff.co.nz.
“We created a hell of a lot of opportunities, which we couldn’t quite take, but it was a good contest for us.
“It just shows, the Hurricanes can score from anywhere.
“It’s a good reminder a week out from the comp.”
The Hurricanes – who weren’t able to call on any of their All Blacks due to all of their managed returns from off-season – will take a spring in their step to their week’s preparation, after Aidan Morgan scored with time up to give them a surprise come-from-behind, five-tries-to-four victory.
“The boys did really well to come back and win, but it’s all about four or five points next week,” Hurricanes coach Jason Holland told stuff.co.nz.
“When you’re playing a team you’re opposite the next week you’re definitely not going to show everything, so there’s a couple of little variations in our game that we’ll be bringing out next week, and I’m sure they’re in exactly the same boat.”
Neither team came away with any major injury worries, though the Hurricanes did have Nehe Milner-Skudder – himself in as injury cover – cop a head knock in trying to take a high ball, and Holland confirmed he would be going through the concussion protocols.
Scorers
For the Hurricanes
Tries: Rayasi, Savea, Proctor, Fidow, Morgan
Con: Morgan
For the Crusaders
Tries: McLeod, Pole, Springer, Punivai
Cons: Burke, Hickey
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 George Bridge, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (Captain), 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: Finlay Brewis (Abraham Pole), Shilo Klein (Ricky Jackson), Fletcher Newell, Mitch Dunshea, Antonio Shalfoon, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Jacob Norris, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Simon Hickey, Macca Springer, Isaiah Punivai, Inga Finau, Freedom Vahaakolo, Chay Fihaki
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Caleb Delany, 4 James Blackwell (captain), 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones.
Replacements: Siua Maile, Xavier Numia, Alex Fidow, Ben May, Ofa Tauatavalu, Justin Sangster, Te Kamaka Howden, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Reed Prinsep, Logan Henry, Aidan Morgan, Leroy Carter, Julian Savea, Bailyn Sullivan, Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
