Perenara potent as Canes scalp Chiefs

Hurricanes scrumhalf TJ Perenara was inspirational and potent in his team’s 32-31 home quarter-final win against the Chiefs.

The Hurricanes got the best possible start when winger Julian Savea scored from an intercept within the first minute. The Chiefs struck back with a try of their own in the seventh minute but Perenara restored the home team’s advantage with a spectacular solo try.

He was equally effective in a second half that belonged to the home team. The Canes coaches cleared the substitutes bench on 75 minutes with the home team 32-17 ahead. The Chiefs struck twice in the last five minutes to come within a point at the final whistle.

Realistically it was never that close.

The Canes led 17-10 at halftime.

Biting the Bullet – Keo and James Dalton’s Super Rugby preview

The Chiefs had won four of their last six games against the Hurricanes, including a 28-24 victory when they met a week ago.

But the play-off eliminator proved a different contest and provided a different result. It was one that was consistent with the Hurricanes’s 25-9 semi-final win against the Chiefs in 2016.

Keo and the Oracle’s Heart versus Head Super Rugby Play-off Picks

The Canes have won 22 of their last 23 games at home, including 10 in succession.

Live Match Centre

Match Commentary

• It’s all over! The referee has blown his whistle to end the game.
• 80+2‘The Chiefs supporters go wild as Charlie Ngatai successfully kicks the conversion.
• 80+1‘Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi sets up the try.
• 80+1‘Incisive passing by Chiefs is finished off by Lachlan Boshier, as he goes over for the try.

• 80‘Charlie Ngatai makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 80‘Chiefs have won 100 rucks so far this game.
• 79‘Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) is shown a yellow card.
• 78‘The touch judges raise their flags as Damian McKenzie kicks the conversion.
• 78‘Spellbinding play by Solomon Alaimalo is finished off with a try.
• 78‘Silky skills by Chiefs ends with a try for Damian McKenzie.
• 77‘Fabulous play by Chiefs has led to Solomon Alaimalo being able to wriggle through a gap.

• 75‘Jamie Booth comes on.
• 75‘TJ Perenara comes off.
• 75‘James O’Reilly comes on.
• 75‘Ricky Riccitelli comes off.
• 75‘Gareth Evans has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 74‘Sam Cane has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 74‘Hurricanes have won 80 rucks so far this game.

• 72‘Ihaia West comes on.
• 72‘Beauden Barrett comes off.
• 71‘Trouble here as Mitch Karpik breaches the defence.
• 71‘Blade Thomson has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 70‘Chiefs decide to make a substitution, with Sam Prattley getting some game time.
• 70‘Chiefs decide to make a substitution, with Karl Tuinukuafe being replaced.
• 69‘Jordie Barrett adds the two points for Hurricanes.
• 68‘Anton Lienert-Brown has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 68‘Jordie Barrett played a key part in that try.
• 68‘A wonderful passing move by Hurricanes is finished off by Ben Lam.
• 68‘This is dangerous for the defence as Ben Lam bursts through to advance the Hurricanes attack.

• 67‘Chiefs sub Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi comes onto the field.
• 67‘Brad Weber departs for Chiefs.
• 64‘Liam Polwart comes on for Chiefs.
• 64‘Nathan Harris leaves the field.
• 64‘Wes Goosen comes on.
• 64‘Nehe Milner-Skudder comes off.
• 64‘Reed Prinsep comes on.
• 64‘Brad Shields comes off.
• 63‘Chiefs have won 80 rucks so far this game.
• 63‘Ben May comes on.
• 63‘Jeff Toomaga-Allen comes off.
• 63‘Hurricanes decide to make a substitution, with Chris Eves getting some game time.
• 63‘Hurricanes decide to make a substitution, with Toby Smith being replaced.
• 63‘Hurricanes make a substitution with Nehe Milner-Skudder coming on.
• 63‘Hurricanes make a substitution with Wes Goosen coming off.
• 62‘Beauden Barrett hits the left post with the conversion, failing to add the two points.
• 61‘A bit of individual brilliance by TJ Perenara leads to a try for Hurricanes.
• 60‘What a tackle there by Solomon Alaimalo as he saves a certain try!.
• 59‘A gap opened in the defence and Jordie Barrett took full advantage.
• 59‘Hurricanes have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 59‘The defensive line has been broken as Beauden Barrett goes through the gap.
• 58‘Chiefs sub Jesse Parete comes onto the field.
• 58‘Michael Allardice departs for Chiefs.
• 58‘Ricky Riccitelli has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 58‘Vaea Fifita comes on for Hurricanes.
• 58‘Michael Fatialofa leaves the field.
• 57‘Jeff Toomaga-Allen has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 55‘Lachlan Boshier has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 54‘Beauden Barrett makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.
• 54‘Wes Goosen comes on.
• 54‘Nehe Milner-Skudder comes off.
• 51‘Damian McKenzie does the business as his conversion attempt goes over.
• 50‘That’s a great try assist by Sam Cane.
• 50‘A series of passes by Chiefs results in a try for Anton Lienert-Brown.
• 50‘What a run here by Anton Lienert-Brown as they gets over the gainline!.
• 49‘Lachlan Boshier makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 46‘Hurricanes have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 44‘Chiefs have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 44‘Fabulous play by Hurricanes has led to Julian Savea being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 40‘The second half is underway.
• 40‘The half-time whistle blows and both teams’ head for the dressing rooms.
• 39‘Trouble here as Liam Messam breaches the defence.
• 38‘This is dangerous for the defence as Brad Weber bursts through to advance the Chiefs attack.
• 37‘Michael Fatialofa has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 35‘A gap opened in the defence and Shaun Stevenson took full advantage.
• 34‘The defensive line has been broken as Ricky Riccitelli goes through the gap.
• 32‘Beauden Barrett makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.
• 32‘A stunning solo try from TJ Perenara.
• 28‘Hurricanes have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 26‘What a run here by Nehe Milner-Skudder as they gets over the gainline!.
• 23‘Chiefs have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 21‘Damian McKenzie kicks the penalty.
• 18‘Chiefs have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 12‘Anton Lienert-Brown makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 11‘Fabulous play by Chiefs has led to Brad Weber being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 10‘Beauden Barrett has kicked a penalty goal.
• 7‘Damian McKenzie converts the try.
• 6‘Shaun Stevenson sets up the try.
• 6‘Great hands by Chiefs leads to a try for Brad Weber.
• 6‘Trouble here as Nathan Harris breaches the defence.
• 6‘This is dangerous for the defence as Charlie Ngatai bursts through to advance the Chiefs attack.
• 3‘A gap opened in the defence and Julian Savea took full advantage.
• 1‘Beauden Barrett has kicked a conversion.
•  Julian Savea intercepts the pass to race ahead and score the try for Hurricanes.
•  The defensive line has been broken as Julian Savea goes through the gap.
•  We are underway as the referee blows his whistle.