Gutsy Canes give Stormers a sniff

Gutsy Canes give Stormers a sniff

13 Jul 2012

JON CARDINELLI reports that a thrilling 28-25 victory for the Hurricanes in Wellington has left the door open for the Stormers to top the Super Rugby league.

A controversial try awarded four minutes into injury time allowed the Hurricanes to snatch a late win and keep their own play-off prospects alive in the process. This result is a bad one for the Bulls, Sharks and Reds, who are all chasing a qualifying spot, but it is a very favourable one for the Stormers.

The Cape side simply need to beat the Rebels in Cape Town on Saturday to win the league and secure a home semi-final. This would result in the Stormers’ first ever top-of-the-table finish, and put them into a position to play a possible final at Newlands.

The Chiefs certainly blew an opportunity in Friday’s encounter at the Cake Tin. It was clear that a bonus-point win was what they were after, as five log points would have secured top spot.

A simple win would also have given them a chance to finish in pole position. The Stormers haven’t scored a bonus-point win this season, but if the Chiefs had won narrowly in Wellington, the Cape side would need to win big in their own final league match. Perhaps the Chiefs should have secured the win before being so ambitious.

But special mention must go to the Hurricanes for their role in a result that has turned the tournament on its head. They were once again inconsistent in this crunch match, and flyhalf Beauden Barrett missed four kicks at goal. To be fair, they were the better side on the day, and as the final call indicated, the 50/50 calls also went their way.

There was minimal kicking in this contest as both teams went in search of a bonus-point win. The Chiefs started well, but then battled to live with Hurricanes at the breakdown. Indeed they were fortunate to be ahead in the final minutes, and if they had won they would have pointed to a crucial score right before half-time as well as Aaron Cruden’s intercept try in the 58th minute as game-winning plays.

But in defeat, it can be said that the eight points the Chiefs banked right before half-time were scored when Hurricanes prop Ben May was off the park. The tighthead was sin-binned for a reckless tackle on Sonny Bill Williams, and the Chiefs made the Hurricanes pay to the tune of eight points.

The intercept try allowed the Chiefs to take the lead at a crucial stage of the game, and credit must go to Cruden for reading the play and latching on to the pass by Barrett. It was a seven-pointer against the run of play, but it highlighted the Chiefs’ threat from the turnover.

Aside from his goal-kicking and that unfortunate pass, Barrett had an absolute blinder at flyhalf. His decision making was excellent and the Chiefs’ defence was guilty of giving him too much room to run and create opportunities for team-mates running a supporting line.

For the Chiefs, Williams was superb, breaking tackles and delivering some inspired offloads. But unfortunately for the visitors, Williams failed to link up with his team-mates after making many a break, and as a result the Chiefs failed to finish some great attacking surges.

The Hurricanes are a young side, but they showed terrific character as the clock wound down. The Chiefs should have put them away during this period, but poor ball security at the breakdown and some woeful tactical kicking allowed the hosts to take control.

It was all the Chiefs could do to hang on, conceding penalty after penalty at the breakdown. The Hurricanes eventually got over the line with the clock on 84 minutes, Dane Coles showing some incredible strength to finish.

Referee Jonathan Kaplan referred the decision to the TMO as the 25 000 screaming fans anticipated a fairytale finish for their Hurricanes team. Tawera-Kerr Barlow looked to have pulled off a heroic tackle on Coles, although it seemed inconclusive whether Kerr-Barlow had got his arm under the ball or if Coles had indeed got the ball down on to the tryline.

The TMO decided it was the latter, and that decision has had some far reaching ramifications. It’s now likely that the Stormers will beat the Rebels on Saturday and top the league, but the Sharks and Bulls will need to win big in their respective clashes to guarantee a spot in the play-offs.

For the Hurricanes, they have kept their hopes alive with an outstanding win over the Chiefs, and no doubt they will be cheering the Sharks and Bulls’ opponents on Saturday.


897 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 18 » Show All

  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 08:59 am

    waikato river dragons

    go Chiefs!

  • 2.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:02 am

    yip…go chiefs…

  • 3.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:06 am

    Chiefs should edge this.

  • 4.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:06 am

    Yep…go Canes… GO GO GO

  • 5.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:07 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-1:
    Ae Trans…Waikato Taniwharau he piko he taniwha

  • 6.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:07 am

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-3:

    Hmmm naaa… The bones have spoken…

  • 7.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:08 am

    Goooooo Canes!

  • 8.stew: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:08 am

    Canes all the way – come on boys

  • 9.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:09 am

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-3: Have you seen the history?

    Canes home ground advantage

    Canes 4 game winning streak

    Chiefs coming of a demoralising loss.

    Goooo Canes

  • 10.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:13 am

    Chiefs will probably take it

    But this is one time where i’ll be more than happy to be dead wrong

  • 11.stew: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:18 am

    Danny Care’s legal representatives have been advised that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and West Yorkshire Police will not be laying charges on the England player.

    Care was involved in an alleged incident in Leeds on 3 March 2012 which was thought to have the potential to lead to charges in relation to a sexual assault.

  • 12.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:19 am

    @Gumboots(Gumboots)-6: Depends on who was reading the bones at the time they were ‘talking’……

  • 13.willievz: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:25 am

    This is it, gents.

    Go Canes.

  • 14.willievz: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:26 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-1: :mad:

  • 15.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:26 am

    C’mon Canes, u can do it, guys!!!

    Cheetahs, same applies to you!!!

    :-)

  • 16.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:30 am

    Chiefs will be made to eat baking powder in the Cake Tin by the Yellow Candy Canes!

  • 17.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:31 am

    @BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-15:

    Second sentence a given! ;)

  • 18.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:35 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-12:

    In tongues my guess… :lol:

  • 19.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:35 am

    Can’t wait for the BOOM come Saturday!!!

  • 20.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:36 am

    I really hope the Canes can come to the party here.

  • 21.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:39 am

    mmm…Chiefs seem to have purpose…

  • 22.wpjoulekkading: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:39 am

    Stupid commentators.
    It was not just the ref. The guys “cleaning out” took out the defenders standing BEHIND the ruck.

  • 23.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:41 am

    Canes scored already???

  • 24.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:41 am

    Come on Canes go and grab a fiver…

  • 25.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:42 am

    The website has it wrong…its Chiefs 7 Canes 3

  • 26.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:43 am

    @Gumboots(Gumboots)-23: Wondering too….other sites show Chiefs actually scored…

  • 27.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:44 am

    @RDOT(RDOT)-25:

    Thanks…

  • 28.sparticus: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:44 am

    So whats the score ? The headline seems wrong cos I am sure Tawera plays fo rteh chiefs ?

  • 29.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:45 am

    @trupisero(trupisero)-26:

    Ja just checked Supersport. It is indeed Chiefs 7 and Canes 3

  • 30.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:45 am

    @Gumboots(Gumboots)-18: If the bones speak in tongues – it’s only the Bulls fans who will understand. :( The gifts of the Holy Spirit were for some reason never dished out to the Stormers team and those who support them – it’s true, ask Jaco vdW.

    I suggest you ask Tacitus to read those bones for you, and then you can make a final call on the result :)

  • 31.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:46 am

    Hurricanes!!!!!

    PLEASE!!!!

  • 32.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:46 am

    Go the Canessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  • 33.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:46 am

    @RDOT(RDOT)-25: @trupisero(trupisero)-26: @Gumboots(Gumboots)-23:

    These Keo Journo’s are really useless hey.

  • 34.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:46 am

    I would like a Julian Savea in the Stormers Xmas stocking.

  • 35.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-33:

    :lol: Understatement perhaps!!!

  • 36.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    Yes go Canes. We scored for the Canes?

  • 37.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    its not 10 Chiefs 8 Canes

  • 38.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    @Gumboots(Gumboots)-35: huge understatement!

  • 39.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-34:

    Oh yes please… Did Canes really score…the question?

  • 40.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    sorry correction…8 Canes 7 Chiefs

  • 41.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    NZ derbies have been the standout for me this year, can’t take your eyes off the screen for one second and you miss linebreaks, hits, pop ups, how can the crowds not go out to watch this?

  • 42.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    i say go canes.

    go go go.

    if the stormers finish tops who do they play in the semi? will it be the sharks if the sharks finish 6th?

    that would be nice (obviously the sharks would need to beat the brumbies first i guess?)

  • 43.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    Jeez Conrad Smith is a good player.

    Best 13 in the world right now.

  • 44.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    Yes Savea! Fantasy points!

  • 45.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    whats the actual score crackheads?

  • 46.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    8 – 7 Canes leading according to Supersport…

  • 47.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    @John Galt(John Galt)-43: What did he do?

  • 48.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    ok i am deploying the drifta

  • 49.Slappes: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:51 am

    Go you Canes!

  • 50.RDOT: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2012, 09:52 am

    Penalty to the Canes 20 metres out not to big an angle Canes should kick it…but they miss…

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