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
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13 Jul 2012, 13:40 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-499:
How’s life in the Hutts!
13 Jul 2012, 13:41 pm
@ufo(ufo)-495:
Cheers UFO.
We could make the play offs with a bit of luck, but even if we dont, to me its been a successful season for us Canes, very happy and proud of these younsters….oh and Conrad the old fella.
13 Jul 2012, 13:41 pm
The top female blogger we have had on keo must be ‘rossoneri’; the rest are just… well the rest
13 Jul 2012, 13:42 pm
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-496:
Hope so Mauler.
I hope we get a chance in the playoffs to cause a few more problems
13 Jul 2012, 13:43 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-499: Well as a patriotic saffa I am hoping this was their last game but if they do sneak in it will be deserved, can’t begrudge them that.
13 Jul 2012, 13:43 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-501:
Dawn, i hear its going good.
All my family live there but i live in Christchurch
13 Jul 2012, 13:43 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-503:
Is this a competition
13 Jul 2012, 13:44 pm
Where is that Khosa friend of mine, katman?
13 Jul 2012, 13:44 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-506:
And Corey
13 Jul 2012, 13:45 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-506:
And where the Hutt is Cane.
Sposed to be here
13 Jul 2012, 13:46 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-502:
it certainly has been a very good season for both our young teams…
whoda thunk it back in the first week when we faced off against each other…?
hurricanes are on a distinct upwards curve from here on…
have to give kudos to mark… got a lot of flak last year… but has stuck to his guns… and with the help and leadership of conrad has proved himself to all his doubters…
you guys gonna be even harder to beat next year…
13 Jul 2012, 13:46 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-509: storming in town? hasnt hit durbanville yet.
13 Jul 2012, 13:46 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-507:
You know it’s not but its only fair to acknowledge high standards from time to time.
I always felt she added a lot of value to the guys discussions if you know what I mean…
13 Jul 2012, 13:47 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-503:
well Sheriff, obviously thats going on your opinion.
Its great having the female rugby heads on this blog.
13 Jul 2012, 13:48 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-513:
Blah blah blah
24 hours ago I was the Princess Queen blogger
What changed your miniscule mind
13 Jul 2012, 13:48 pm
I wrote it yesterday:
“43.Hondo said:
12 Jul 2012, 13:48 pm
Hurricanes vs Chiefs: too close, Kaplan in control, for the pundits, Canes by 3 to 5″
Looking forward to Jonker, Pro Legota, Peiper and Joubert to keep it neat for me
:d
13 Jul 2012, 13:49 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-512:
it was… and now blue skies in the beautiful south…
13 Jul 2012, 13:50 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-510:
hahaha
Cane will be celebrating a good win, probably went to the game and now doing the bar crawl through Courtney Place
13 Jul 2012, 13:50 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-512:
Batten down the hatches
13 Jul 2012, 13:50 pm
i think its a little suspicious that keo suffered an all out attack over the course of a month that toppled him from his perch.
first we heard about his alleged links to the kings bid and how he was due to make cash there.
then it was the coke sniffing womaniser.
all in one month?
seems keo p i s s ed someone off big time.
13 Jul 2012, 13:50 pm
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-478: I’m calling an imbecile not because you got the guess wrong, its guess after all nothing to it, I called an imbecile based on the logic or reckoning that losing at home will be a catalyst for winning away away.
I didn’t expect an adult to think like that. I expected your reasoning to be sound.
13 Jul 2012, 13:51 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-518:
OK maybe later then!
13 Jul 2012, 13:51 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-514:
Mate don’t let it trouble your heart
I honestly believe ‘feedback’ is one of most neglected aspects of life; I’m merely honouring Rossoneri in her absence (although she could well be reading here as we speak)
I’m grateful to have someone like her in our midst
13 Jul 2012, 13:52 pm
@ufo(ufo)-517: @Dawn(Dawn)-519: Really? I hope its clear for tomorrows game.
13 Jul 2012, 13:52 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-520:
Hatchet job
13 Jul 2012, 13:53 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-524:
prediction is for very cold tomorrow but no rain…
here’s hoping WeatherSA got it right this time…!!
13 Jul 2012, 13:54 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-523:
Aaaaaww sweet.
I will inbox your pathetic yearning for her to her on facebook.
13 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
@ufo(ufo)-498:
Looks like we will top the logo for the 1st time in our illustrious history.
Second in 1999, 2010 and 2011.
13 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
All I need is the Blues to beat the Brumbies, a big payout, the SA games are rigged anyway, no upset expected, the Reds will clobber the Waratahs and the Saders will do the same to the Force, no contest!
13 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-485: Saying the Stormers will win tomorrow because my granny baked a blueberry cake and Stormers always win when my granny bakes is stupid, its not the call on the game but the reasoning that’s stupid, I hope you get the difference.
13 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
@ufo(ufo)-511:
Spot on UFO.
The younsters have all put there hands up.
Hammett was thought to have been a bit crazy, but obviously he knew what was needed, and that was a clean out.
13 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-508: We’re not friends. I tolerate you so as not to appear racist – it boosts my BEE credentials. But you won’t be coming over for a braai any time soon. Unless it’s to drop off a bakkie load of wood.
13 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-515:
Understand and know that if I put your on a pedestal, then its my pedestal
I put you there.
If you want me to compare you to Rugby Princess then will have to step up your performance; emotional outbursts not the way to go
13 Jul 2012, 13:56 pm
To be fair Sheriff…
Dawn is also really a top person and blogger…
13 Jul 2012, 13:57 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-533:
What emotional outburst.
13 Jul 2012, 13:58 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-533:
And PS by the way and FYI
I dont “want” you to compare me to anybody.
I stand alone.
13 Jul 2012, 13:58 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-528:
don’t count those crows till they IN the stable door bud…
please…???
13 Jul 2012, 14:00 pm
@ufo(ufo)-526: And best of all…
The Stormers can top the log by playing boring rugby.
No bonuspoints required.
Only the win.
13 Jul 2012, 14:01 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-530:
Why so serious.
A few players i know off listen to one song they like before they take field,they believe it gives them goodluck and helps towards a win. Of course it does not but its what they believe in.
Mauler did a call, he believed thats why the Chiefs would win.
If your so great, what was your call on the game?
13 Jul 2012, 14:01 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-520:
I for one wouldn’t pay attention to anything of what all those well wishers for Keo wrote, it usually fabricated and easy to call its bluff
Like that ‘rape’ allegation, I guess ‘Colonel’ Naido’s still ‘investigating’ ?
13 Jul 2012, 14:02 pm
@ufo(ufo)-537:
True. Said the same thing to Sasuke the other day.
Going to the game with some old school mates. Starting the festivities at 1pm.
13 Jul 2012, 14:02 pm
Stormers
13 Jul 2012, 14:04 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-536:
Hear hear…… hair hair…….hare hare….here here. take your pick.
13 Jul 2012, 14:04 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-532:
Aw mate you break my heart, I’m falling apart over here
And I sent a mail to all my friends to say what a great friend I have in you; I even pointed out how you are almost funny sometimes and all that…
I will have to pull that mail back; let’s hope only a few saw it
I feel worthless right now
13 Jul 2012, 14:05 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-531: The real benefit of having so many youngsters in the setup, is that they arrive with a clean mental slate. They carry no emotional or mental baggage from previous tournaments and overseas legs of the tournament etc.
i saw the Canes earlier this year in CT before their opening match – what a breath of fresh air those kids were. They were excited to be touring, hyped about playing at Newlands and just full of positive energy. This HAS to rub off on the older, more jaded players. They just believe in themselves and their abilities, without the pressure and stress of an 8 year playing career that has been built up and broken down in the media – no scarring (as of yet of course)
Ditto for the Stormer’s squad.
13 Jul 2012, 14:06 pm
@willievz(willievz)-538:
Well, Stormers play boring, wrist slitting to watch rugby but you play to win. Stormers been winning so good on them. Deserve to be at the top if they win.
13 Jul 2012, 14:06 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-536: Are those words from a Kenny Rogers song?
13 Jul 2012, 14:07 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-544: Harden the fck up, boet.
13 Jul 2012, 14:07 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-481: Fark you… A professional beer drinker here…
Oversized right elbow… and master of many languages immediately post beerage
13 Jul 2012, 14:08 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-545:
Yep, can just imagine the first tour of OZ or SA for these young guys. Pumped up and keen to impress.
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