VIDEO: Hurricanes hold off Waratahs in 17-try thriller
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: It could be a long five weeks for Australia’s Super Rugby sides after the Waratahs joined the Queensland Reds as first-round fodder for New Zealand opposition in the inaugural Trans-Tasman tournament.
Winless in the recently-completed Super Rugby AU competition, the Waratahs endured a ninth straight defeat on Friday, succumbing 48-64 to the Hurricanes in a Sydney try-fest.
The SCG shellacking came after the newly-crowned Australian champion Reds suffered a 19-40 defeat at the hands of the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The pair of heavy defeats, coming against New Zealand’s bottom two finishers in Super Rugby Aotearoa, is an ominous sign for Australia’s five franchises – especially the Waratahs.
Once a Super Rugby powerhouse, the Tahs face the grim prospect of going through an entire season winless for the first time after failing to convert a first-half lead against the Hurricanes into a desperately-needed victory.
Wooden spooners in the Super Rugby Aotearoa, the Hurricanes piled on 52 points after trailing 17-12 midway through the first half.
The last-versus-last encounter was hardly a spectacle for defence, with 90 points amassed in the first hour alone.
A Harry Johnson-Holmes second-half double – which made the 24-year-old the Waratahs’ most prolific try-scoring prop in history with nine five-pointers – at one point pulled the home side back to within nine points of the Highlanders.
But with Jordie Barrett, Dane Coles, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Brayden Iose, Pepesana Patafilo and Asafo Aumua all crossing the stripe to follow doubles for Billy Proctor and Julian Savea, the Hurricanes were always in control.
Jack Maddocks’ long-range effort for the Tahs after the full-time siren was the 17th try of the match.
“Attacking wise, we’re starting to hit our straps,” said Waratahs captain Jake Gordon.
“We’re still leaking far too many points and giving away too many silly penalties.
“But we’ve got to take the positives.”
Man of the match: The Hurricanes’ backline stole the show, especially the back three. Salesi Rayasi, Julian Savea and Jordie Barrett will share the award.
The scorers:
For Waratahs:
Tries: Newsome, Bell, Gordon, Johnson-Holmes 2, Swinton, Maddocks
Cons: Donaldson 5
Pen: Donaldson
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Savea 2, Proctor 2, Barrett, Coles, Iose, Umaga-Jensen, Patafilo, Aumua
Con: Barrett 7
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Will Harris, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Joe Cotton, 17 Te Tera Faulkner, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Will Harrison, 23 Tepai Moeroa.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Luke Campbell, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Alex Fidow, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Liam Mitchell, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Orbyn Leger, 23 Pepesana Patafilo.
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett, Angus Gardner
TMO: James Leckie
AAP & @rugby365com
