Hurricanes too strong for Brumbies in Canberra
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The Hurricanes kept their slim Super 14 semi-final chances alive with an improbable 23-13 victory over the Brumbies in their Super 14 match in Canberra on Friday.
The Brumbies completely dominated possession and territory, while Hurricanes flyhalf Aaron Cruden missed three kickable penalties for the visitors, who stayed in the game through superb defence and far too many handling errors from the Brumbies.
The Hurricanes were also heavily penalised early on by referee Jonathan Kaplan, with flanker Nick Crosswell and scrumhalf Tyson Keats both spending 10 minutes in the sinbin to leave them with 14 men for 20 minutes of the first half.
The Hurricanes’ defence, however, managed to withstand wave after wave of Brumbies’ attack while a man down, with the home side able to score only a try to scrumhalf Patrick Phibbs when Keats was off the field.
“We were pretty lucky to still be in the game at half-time,” Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore said in a televised interview.
“We defended pretty well and had 14 men for 20 minutes so the message at half-time was to get out there and have some fun because we had nothing to lose, and I’m pretty happy with that.”
Cruden slotted his second penalty early in the second half then converted centre Conrad Smith’s 51st minute try to give the Hurricanes a 13-5 lead before Australia flyhalf Matt Giteau scored his side’s second try.
Kaplan then sinbinned his third player when replacement Brumbies’ hooker Huia Edmonds was shown a yellow card for a tackle indiscretion in the 64th minute and Cruden slotted his third penalty, though Giteau replied three minutes later.
Hurricanes flanker Victor Vito then pounced on a loose ball from a knockdown of a Tamati Ellison pass by Adam Ashley-Cooper and sprinted over for an opportunist try to give the Hurricanes the 23-13 lead with six minutes remaining.
The Hurricanes moved into seventh position in the standings, while the Brumbies remained in sixth spot.
In next weekend’s Round 11 action, the Hurricanes travel to Dunedin to face the Highlanders while the Brumbies visit Sydney to play the Waratahs.
Teams:
Brumbies:
15 Julian Huxley, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Substitutes: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 James Stannard, 21 Brackin Kaurauria-Henry, 22 Andrew Smith/Ed Stubbs.
Hurricanes:
15. Cory Jane, 14. Tamati Ellison, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Tyson Keats; 8. Rodney So’oialo, 7. Nick Crosswell, 6. Victor Vito, 5. Michael Paterson, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 3. Neemia Tialata, 2. Andrew Hore (captain), 1. John Schwalger
Substitutes: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Jacob Ellison, 18. Bryn Evans, 19. James Broadhurst, 20. Chris Eaton, 21. Willie Ripia, 22. Jason Kawau
[Reuters]
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