Canes conquer Chiefs
12 Mar 2011
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Hurricanes’ 29-26 win over the Chiefs in Wellington on Saturday.
The Kiwi commentators raved about this fixture throughout proceedings, branding it ‘a highly entertaining spectacle’. But that would be an inaccurate summary of a match that was infested with poor passing, handling and ball retention, and a disregard for kicking in pressure situations as both teams persisted to attack from deep. This resulted in a more frustrating spectacle for most parts of the game.
The optimists would point to the five tries scored, but there were many more opportunities to cross the chalk which were spoilt by errant play and a lack of composure, and two of those five-pointers came at the death when the game loosened up.
The first quarter was a scrappy affair as both teams struggled to put five or more phases together. The Chiefs enjoyed most of the possession and created more chances to score, but they didn’t have the temperament to build an early advantage. The Chiefs eventually opened the scoring through flyhalf Stephen Donald as he targeted opposite number Aaron Cruden’s channel from 8m out and crashed over for the first try. After adding the extras, Donald traded penalties with Cruden for a 10-3 score line in the 25th minute.
The Hurricanes built some momentum and hit back through loosehead prop John Schwalger after several attempts to level the tallies. Donald slotted his second three-pointer to edge the Chiefs 13-10 ahead at the break.
The Chiefs started better after the restart added to their lead as flanker Scott Waldrom dived over from close range. After another frustrating period of play, Cruden kicked two penalties to make it a two-point game. The visitors then fell behind as the Hurricanes gained the ascendancy and put together a 10-point blitz. Replacement scrumhalf Tyson Keats sneaked in from around the fringes and reserve pivot Daniel Kirkpatrick added the extras and kicked a penalty for a 26-18 lead.
Chiefs replacement flyhalf Mike Delany kicked a penalty to bring his team within reach, but Kirkpatrick continued his impressive cameo with the boot by nailing his second three-pointer. Fullback Tim Nanai-Williams grabbed a late try to create an intense finish, but the Hurricanes managed to hold on for the win.
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187 Comments
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12 Mar 2011, 14:04 pm
Our boys are bent over nicely and they are getting an unlubricated rear end pounding of epic proportions.
Morkel is having a torrid time out there.
12 Mar 2011, 14:05 pm
As I say that he picks the wicket of the little master. Well played Sachin.
12 Mar 2011, 14:06 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-149: Quie a good kinf of Latvian, rangerman.
Most popular sports here are ice hockey, football, basketball. I more or less follow cricket since WC03, maybe the only one native here having any interest in this, I guess.
I am still angry since yesterday even more than after those two Pakistani bowling cheats. Hope WI will kick their sorry arses home. However, considering my luck, I guess Poms will beat them, while I was putting my money on WI. Someone up there seriously is wanting to bankrupt me.
And now Blues …
12 Mar 2011, 14:10 pm
@Nils(Nils)-153: all good, i just wondered if you had picked up cricket and rugby on travels around the world or how the interest came about really?
12 Mar 2011, 14:10 pm
Whoa! hang on a second………
12 Mar 2011, 14:12 pm
So, Graham said ‘we are not chokers’. Well G, maybe not, but you are not very good are you?
12 Mar 2011, 14:14 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-149: As for cricket, I have to thank Sky Sports website. Randomly opened cricket page while world cup game was on and get sucked in. Knowing nothing about the game or the rules whatsoever at that time.
What? Wickets are tumbling! Is there any hope?
Still, cmon Blues!!!! But I am woried very much, they look rather impotent.
12 Mar 2011, 14:15 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-154: Rather sitting in front of my PC.
Never have been in Africa, Asia or Oceania.
12 Mar 2011, 14:17 pm
How ****** can Blues be
Ranger too lazy to jump for a ball and score, knock-ons etc. etc.
Poor Force is keeping them at bay easily.
12 Mar 2011, 14:22 pm
India for the 2nd time stupidly mess up there batting order by sending Pathan and not KOHLI in at #4 and for the 2nd time pay the price .How thick are they.
Kohli scored a century in his firctWC innings and gets punised twice or more for that .And they call that being sensible.
12 Mar 2011, 14:29 pm
India are self destructing, not that I’m complaining of course.
12 Mar 2011, 14:50 pm
Unfu.ckingbelievable. India bowled out for 296 at 197/1 in the 30th over, who would have thought?
12 Mar 2011, 14:51 pm
Wow Warne’s bookie really has some sway over India.
12 Mar 2011, 15:01 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-161:
I hope the Proteas take advantage of this stupidity after such a wonderful start of 267/1′
Must be the GREATEST implosion ever!!!
Proteas need to teach the arrogant Indians a huge lesson.
How can they twice in succession send in Pathan at #4 instead of Kohli who scored a 100 on WC debut? Nothing short or arrogance this is.
12 Mar 2011, 15:10 pm
@ET.(ET.)-164: The Indians have given us an opening. If the Proteas fail to capitalise here, they might as well catch the next SAA flight out of Mumbai to Johannesburg.
That seems to be a general problem with the so called power hitters.
We also had similar issues with Albie Morkel and Justin Kemp. Knowing when to send them in seems to be a challenge.
12 Mar 2011, 15:18 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-165:
For sure they have and Proteas must grab it with both hands.
But what pisses me off is that they have denied us all of one of the possible greatest run chases like that SA-Aussie one there in JHB.
12 Mar 2011, 15:21 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-165:
Many teams seem to mess up the batting power plays by thinking it is a slogfest but instead losing many wkts.
Why not just not take it and continue batting when you are doing so so well.
12 Mar 2011, 15:23 pm
@ET.(ET.)-166: You think we would have chased down anything above 320? I have my doubts.
12 Mar 2011, 15:27 pm
@ET.(ET.)-167: It would be interesting to analyse how many wickets are lost during power plays. A lot of teams are conservative when it comes to their use of the power plays. Most tend to leave it for overs 35 – 45. I think a good time to take one is when you have two well set batsmen ala India when Tendlkar and Gambir were going great guns.
12 Mar 2011, 15:30 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-168:
The first 3 Indian batsmen were going at 7 – 9 an over consistently and Amla, De Vil. and Duminy can do that with just some stability from Kallis but after 6 or so then it becomes a problem.
But now this asking rate is only 5-92 and the Indian bowling is not that hot.
12 Mar 2011, 15:32 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-169:
From what I have seen since Nov. last year far too many batsmen get stupidly out. Look today Sachin, Gambhier, yuvraj and more all got out to silly shots which were not on to be lofted.
12 Mar 2011, 15:34 pm
@ET.(ET.)-170:
by 6 I mean batsman #6
12 Mar 2011, 15:38 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)
If you were the coach, captain of India would you not have left Kohli at any stage at #4 after he scored that debut WC 100 at more than a run a ball(>t100)?
12 Mar 2011, 15:39 pm
@ET.(ET.)-170: If we had to chase 350 against India at the Wanderes then I’d back our boys but in the sub-continent where the spinners play such a big role; I’d think twice.
That batting power play is a bit of a double edged sword. I’m yet to see a captain who is brave enough to take it outside of the “accelaration overs” say around the 17th or 20th over.
12 Mar 2011, 15:45 pm
@ET.(ET.)-173: The presence of a power hitter in the line up complicates things a little bit. The temptation to tinker with the line up is always there because if the power hitter comes off then you get an extra 40 or 50 odd runs but if he doesn’t then it’s a problem.
I would have sent Kohli in at 4. There were still plenty of overs to play with and he’s not exactly a slow scorer; I think his strike rate is 93 and he is supremely gifted.
12 Mar 2011, 15:47 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-174:
Indian spinners(Harbas.) have not been so hot accept for that 5for by Yuvraj.
Just watch how Amla and others will go for Nehra.
12 Mar 2011, 15:49 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-175:
Pathan has performed well when more than 40 overs have been bowled mostly.
12 Mar 2011, 15:52 pm
Proteas can do this IF they just relax and keep their cool, but will they be cool?
12 Mar 2011, 15:56 pm
@ET.(ET.)-176: That old adage ET…..Form is temporary, class is permanent. Our batsmen aren’t too comfortable against spin bowling.
@ET.(ET.)-177: Exactly, they could have sent Kohli in at 4 and saved Pathan for later but I think they just got a bit too carried away. We were under the pump and I think they just wanted to finish us off…..brave cricket?
Graeme is battling with his timing. Amla on the other hand looks good.
12 Mar 2011, 16:21 pm
@Jozi(Jozi)-179:
Smith has been a no-show for a while now and has done nothing of note this WC and now is agin out cheaply.
12 Mar 2011, 16:34 pm
@ET.(ET.)-180: Smith and Smit should be fired.
12 Mar 2011, 16:37 pm
India bringing on their spinners. This will be the key moment I feel.
12 Mar 2011, 16:40 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-181:
That’s what I was alluding to earlier when i posed the question about adequacy.
12 Mar 2011, 17:35 pm
@ET.(ET.)-183: I’d fire them both, in fact I’d fire the selectors for both codes too and the respective coaches. Management and Exco…
12 Mar 2011, 21:33 pm
@nama1(nama1)-110:
I ask again: Where is Tackler?
To all the “choking brigade,” led by Tackler and Goyougood(for no)thing:
IN YOU ******* FACE.
13 Mar 2011, 13:54 pm
@nama1(nama1)-185: Settle, its a meaningless pool game you just beat India in, its not like both the teams are going to lose to minnows and get knocked out – no real pressure on either side. Wait till the knock out fixture, thats when you see the real chokers like the Proteas and All Blacks show there true colours. That is me being honest – both of those sides under deliver at world cups – fact
13 Mar 2011, 14:21 pm
The Proteas have one massive weakness and that is the wicket-keeper.Van Wyk is the worst keeper of this wc and the selectors might later regret not bringing Mark Boucher along for the ride.
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