Lethal 'Canes outgun the Blues
The Hurricanes showcased their ruthless attacking instincts against the battling Blues to record an impressive 35-19 bonus-point victory over the Super Rugby bottom-feeders in Wellington on Friday.
The Blues played with plenty of determination but lacked the finishing touch and were handed a lesson in taking their opportunities by a Hurricanes team that is a threat from anywhere on the park.
The Blues showed good patience in the first half and scrumhalf Piri Weepu kicked four penalties in a controlled display, but the home side still took a 16-12 lead into the half-time break thanks to two classy tries.
The first came when flyhalf Beauden Barrett put in a pinpoint cross-kick for Cory Jane to chase, and the aerial wizard did just enough to knock the ball from Blues wing George Moala's grasp, giving his captain Conrad Smith the opportunity to clean up and dot down for the try.
The Blues took the lead back through the steady boot of Weepu, but the Hurricanes then showed how lethal they can be on the counter-attack when fullback Andre Taylor crossed from long range following a turnover secured deep within their own territory. Scrumhalf TJ Perenara did well to get the ball away to Jane, and he made good use of his trademark hand-off to put Taylor away for the runaway try.
The Hurricanes were denied a third try when the explosive Julian Savea put a foot in touch as he went for the corner after some great work from both Perenara and Barrett, but the left wing got over the whitewash soon afterwards when quick hands from Barrett and Smith set him up to crash over and stretch the lead to 21-12.
The bonus point was wrapped up when Perenara went to the blindside from an attacking scrum and forced his way over in the corner, with Barrett's first conversion of the match stretching the lead to 28-12.
The Blues were bale to hit back with a late counter-attacking try of their own when outside centre Benson Stanley cruised over following a good break from the unpredictable Rene Ranger, but the Hurricanes would have the final say when lock Jason Eaton pounced on a loose ball in the 22 to go over for his team's fifth try.
The scorers:
For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Smith, Taylor, Savea, Perenara, Eaton
Con: Barrett 2
Pens: Barrett 2
For the Blues:
Try: Stanley
Con: Munro
Pens: Weepu 4
Teams:
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Reg Goodes, 18 Jack Lam, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Alapati Leiua.
Blues: 15 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 George Moala, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid (captain), 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Lachie Munroe, 22 David Raikuna.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
