The Bus' record could not save the Canes from Super upset

SATURDAY WRAP: Julian Savea equalled the record for most tries in Super Rugby but it was not enough to stop the Hurricanes crashing to a 24-27 upset loss to Fijian Drua in Suva on Saturday.

The powerful wing crossed for two tries to lift his career tally to 60, level with former Waratahs back Israel Folau.

Savea – whose 46 Test tries rank him second on the all-time All Blacks list – brought up the Super Rugby milestone in his 150th match for the Hurricanes.

It is a slower strike rate than Folau, whose 60 tries came from 96 games before the Wallabies star’s Rugby Australia contract was terminated in 2019.

Savea’s efforts were not enough to prevent the Hurricanes from slumping to a third Super Rugby Pacific defeat from 10 matches this season while the Drua picked up a fourth win.

The result reinforced what a difficult proposition the Drua are in their hot and humid home conditions.

The victory was achieved in similar circumstances to their one-point boilover against the defending champion Crusaders in Round Three in Lautoka.

In both games, replacement back Kemu Valetini was the match-winner with the boot.

Against the Crusaders, Valetini landed a last-gasp penalty goal.

It took two late penalties from the brother of Wallabies forward Rob Valetini to secure victory against the Hurricanes, first to draw level and the second to put the Drua in front with two minutes remaining.

Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea, the brother of Julian, had no excuses for the upset result against a Drua team prepared to attack from all parts of the ground.

“We always knew it was going to be tough, and we just weren’t good enough,” he said.

“The Drua capitalised and they played their game. It was hard to defend. They’re very dangerous, very scary.”

Drua captain Tevita Ikanivere said his seventh-placed side will look to capitalise on their home-ground prowess as they push for a top-eight finish over the final four rounds of the regular season.

“It’s good to get back in the winner’s circle but we want to get into the quarter-play-offs so we have to win those next two (home games),” he said.

(Continue below …)

* In the second of Saturday’s matches the defending champion Crusaders bounced back from a loss to the Chiefs with an eight-try rout of the Western Force in Christchurch.

The Crusaders also put a big dent in the Force’s play-off hopes with the clinical 48-13 bounce-back win.

The defending champions delivered a set-piece masterclass to put the Force to the sword with an eight-tries-to-one drubbing.

The Crusaders dominated the scrum and line-out, made hay with their deadly driving maul and dazzled their home fans with some beautifully executed tries from a backline brimming with class.

All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo’unga typically pulled the strings but some lovely touches from star fullback Will Jordan in his long-awaited return from an inner-ear vestibular issue would have most pleased Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.

Jordan hasn’t played since last September and, with 21 tries from as many Tests, the attacking sensation’s successful comeback would also have been a huge relief for embattled All Blacks coach Ian Foster five months out from the World Cup.

The Crusaders would have won even more handsomely had Mo’unga not missed five conversion attempts, mostly from out wide.

“We were outclassed in every aspect of the game and the scoreline shows that so well done to the Crusaders,” said dejected Force captain Michael Wells.

With the Hurricanes suffering a surprise loss to the Fiji Drua earlier, the Crusaders surged into second spot with the bonus-point victory.

“We put in a lot of work during the week after last week’s performance, especially the scrum and happy to see that,” said hooker Brodie McAlister, who scored a hat-trick with three maul five-pointers.

The injury-hit Force is at the other end of the table, languishing in second-last position above only the winless Moana Pasifika and probably needing to win three of their last four games to scrape into the play-offs for the first time after missing out last year by one competition point.

They host the Drua next week before having further home games against heavyweights the Chiefs and Brumbies plus a trip to Melbourne to face the Rebels.

Wells said the Force couldn’t rely on their three-from-three record in 2023 against the dangerous Drua.

“Obviously the Drua are a fast-flying team on attack,” Wells said.

“If our defence doesn’t turn up, doesn’t force turnovers and lets them dictate territory and the speed of the game, that’s going to be an issue for us.”

* The winless Moana Pasifika were denied after the Blues scored a late penalty try to win 31-30 in a dramatic finish at Eden Park.

Following nine straight losses, Moana Pasifika were pipped in the final seconds in the one-point thriller.

Down by six points with time up, the Blues were awarded a penalty try from a scrum in the last play of the game.

Blues captain Dalton Papali’i said it was a considerable effort to come away with the win, despite being below their best.

“There’s a bit of mixed emotions, we knew Moana was going to come here and bring it to us,” he said.

“There’s a rivalry building here already. It goes to show the quality side they are, they nearly took the win.

“I feel like we didn’t execute in the areas that we needed to but you can’t fault the effort from the boys.”

All Saturday’s scores and scorers…

Fijian Drua 27-24 Hurricanes

The scorers

For Fijian Drua
Tries: Rakuro 2, Derenalagi
Cons: Lomani 2, Valetini
Pens: Valetini 2

For the Hurricanes
Tries: Savea 2, Numia, Kirifi
Cons: Barrett 2

Teams

Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kalaveti Rovouvou, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Joseva Tamani, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Jone Koroi, 19 Etonia Waqa, 20 Meli Derenalagi, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Eroni Sau.

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Justin Sangster, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Owen Franks, 19 TK Howden, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Harry Godfrey, 23 Salesi Rayasi.

Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, James Palmer
TMO: Brett Cronan

Crusaders 48-13 Western Force

The scorers

For the Crusaders
Tries: McAlister 3, Fainga’anuku 2, Springer 2, Taylor
Cons: Mo’unga 4

For the Western Force
Try: Pugh
Con: Burey
Pens: Burey 2

Teams

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Macca Springer, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Seb Calder, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Zach Gallagher, 20 Christian Lio-Willie, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Jack Goodhue.

Force: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Max Burey, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Michael Wells (captain), 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Felix Kalapu, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Charlie Hancock.
Replacements: 16 Feleti Kaitu’u, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Bowen Abra, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Jackson Pugh, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Nikolai Foliaki, 23 George Poolman.

Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Marcus Playle
TMO: Jonathan Paterson

Blues 31-30 Moana Pasifika

Scorers

For the Blues
Tries: Ioane, Eklund, Clarke, Darry, Penalty try
Cons: Plummer, Sullivan, a penalty try does not require a conversion

For Moana Pasifika
Tries: Tavatavanawai, Pole, Lealiifano, Inisi
Cons: Lealiifano 2
Pens: Lealiifano, Leuila

Yellow cards: Marcel Renata (Blues, 47), Solo,ome Funaki (Moana Pasifika, 77), Michael Curry (Moana Pasifika, 80)

Teams

Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Bryce Heem, 12 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Cameron Suafoa, 7 Dalton Papalii (captain), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 James Tucker, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tuungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 James Lay, 19 Tom Robinson, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 D’Angelo Leuila, 11 Neria Fomai, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Solomone Funaki (captain), 7 Alamanda Motuga, 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Mike McKee, 4 Michael Curry, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Alex McRobbie, 20 Jonah Mau’u, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Lincoln McClutchie, 23 Fine Inisi.

Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant referees: Cameron Stone, Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly

Reds 24-32 Waratahs

The scorers

For the Reds
Tries: Faessler, Vunivalu, Ravai Kovekalou
Cons: Creighton 3
Pen: Creighton

For the Waratahs
Tries: Porecki, Seu, Foketi, Johnson-Holmes
Cons: Donaldson 3
Pens: Donaldson 2

Teams

Reds: 15 Jordan Petaia, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 James O’Connor, 11 Jock Campbell, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Tate McDermott (cc), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (cc), 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Connor Vest, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Seru Uru, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Filipo Daugunu.

Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Hugh Sinclair, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Te Tera Faulkner.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Nephi Leatigaga, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Will Harris, 20 Charlie Gamble, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Joey Walton, 3 Harry Wilson.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, David Conway
TMO: James Leckie

Sources: AFP & AAP