VIDEO: Rampant Hurricanes crush Force
MATCH REPORT: The Western Force have been dealt a brutal reality check about rugby life in New Zealand, with the Hurricanes running in seven tries to nil in a 43-6 Napier romp.
The Force entered the match as the form Australian team, having put in brave performances in losses to the Chiefs (19-20) and Highlanders (15-25) in Perth.
The Perth-based franchise shot out to a 6-0 lead against the Hurricanes, but it was all one-way traffic from there as the home side ran in a series of stunning running tries in front of 9226 fans.
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“We were our own worst enemies there,” Force captain Kyle Godwin told Stan after the match.
“We weren’t good enough tonight. They pounced on our mistakes and capitalised. We didn’t stick to structure, we didn’t stick to our game plan and got beaten well and truly.
“We didn’t throw many punches at them. We didn’t challenge them offensively.
“We didn’t trust ourselves enough there. We let the Hurricanes dominate the game. It’s a big learning curve for us.”
The Force made a promising start, capitalising on a series of uncharacteristic errors and discipline issues from the Hurricanes to build a 6-0 lead after 11 minutes.
But all of their good work was undone by an overthrow from the line-out two minutes later.
Hurricanes prop Asafo Aumua snared the loose ball and shook off two tacklers in his 60m sprint to the line.
Wing Salesi Rayasi had his 18th-minute try disallowed after he pushed Force halfback Tomas Cubelli in the lead-up.
But there was no denying him in the 21st minute, when he took to the air to score a spectacular try in the corner before being tackled into touch.
The lead ballooned to 19-6 in the 38th minute when Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax ripped the ball from Tim Anstee’s grasp to set up a try for Du’Plessis Kirifi.
Alarm bells were ringing for the visitors when Hurricanes winger Wes Goosen won a sprint-off to the line in the 47th minute to make it 24-6.
Rayasi produced the highlight of the match in the 58th minute when he stuck out his left leg to bobble up an errant pass from Force scrumhalf Ian Prior, and then sprinted the full length of the field to touch down.
The Force were controversially denied a try to Jeremy Thrush in the 72nd minute when the referee and TMO deemed there was an obstruction before the rolling maul was formed.
Things got even crueller for the Force a minute later, when a chip from Hurricanes fullback Jordie Barrett set up a try to inside centre Ngani Laumape.
Fullback Jordie Barrett put the icing on the cake with a try after the final siren.
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Aumua, Rayasi 2, Kirifi, Goosen, Laumape, Barrett
Cons: Barrett 3
For Western Force:
Pens: Miotti 2
Teams:
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Orbyn Leger, 9 Luke Campbell, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Du’plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep (captain), 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 James Blackwell, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Vince Aso.
Western Force: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Kyle Godwin (captain), 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Tim Anstee, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Feleti Kaitu’u, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Jack McGregor, 23 Tevita Kuridrani.
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe, Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Mike Fraser
