Hat-trick: TJ Perenara
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A hat-trick of tries from TJ Perenara was the catalyst for the Hurricanes' impressive 46-19 win over Western Force at nib Stadium on Friday.
In a result that soured Nathan Sharpe's record-breaking 150th Super rugby appearance, the Force were given a thrashing by the 'Canes.
Scrum-half Perenara scored three of the visitors' six tries on his starting debut as the New Zealand franchise won a second straight match to climb to second place in the conference table.
Andre Taylor, Jason Eaton and Charlie Ngatai also crossed for the Hurricanes, with fly-half Beauden Barrett knocking over nine points.
The 34-year-old Sharpe became the first player to reach the milestone in the southern hemisphere competition but the Australia lock couldn't celebrate with a win, despite the scores being locked at 10-10 approaching half-time after Matt Hodgson cancelled out Perenara's fifth-minute try.
It was the Force's third straight loss, while injuries to wings Nick Cummins (calf) and Napolioni Nalaga (leg) compounded their woes.
After playing in South Africa - losing to the Stormers and beating the Lions - the Hurricanes' backs proved too much for the hosts, with Perenara shining in his first Super Rugby start.
His second try, coming in the 35th minute, came after a smart offload by right wing Cory Jane before full-back Taylor's try in the corner put the Hurricanes 22-10 up at the interval.
19-year-old Perenara sealed the bonus-point for four tries in the 50th minute, and late scores by the impressive Eaton and replacement Ngatai completed a comfortable win.
The scorers:
For Western Force:
Try: Hodgson
Con: Stannard
Pen: Stannard 4
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Perenara 3, Taylor, J Eaton, Ngatai
Con: Barrett 3, Kirkpatrick 2
Pen: Barrett, Kirkpatrick
Western Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Patrick Dellit, 12 Rory Sidey, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 James Stannard, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Matt Hodgson, 7 David Pocock (c), 6 Richard Brown, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Kieran Longbottom.
Replacements: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Angus Cottrell, 20 Justin Turner, 21 Ben Seymour, 22 Alfie Mafi.
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Michael Bent, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Charlie Ngatai.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Comments
sandal says...
@isthatrightref
Lol. You might be right.
But I think I have established my credentials as a Hammett-basher.
Whatever the Canes do this year, what Hammett did last year was unforgivable.
Posted 06:52 13th March 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ Sandal... a true Hammett-basher would wait for the mid- or late-season slump then come out with "told ya so, Hammett's rubbish, get rid of him" so to me you're more like my mates back in Levin who know & love their footy, have been following the 'canes since day 1 (we all went to the 1st-ever S12 match), start every year thinking that THIS year things will be different & finish most years hoping that NEXT year things will be different... as they say, the only consistent thing about the 'canes is their inconsistency, regardless of coach & personnel.
Posted 03:47 13th March 2012
sandal says...
@ Ramage
""I dont believe you can say the Stormers are one of the worst teams in the competition.""
Quite right, Ramage, and I admit my error. I was thinking, wrongly, that the Canes had played the Cheetahs and not the Stormers.
Posted 21:31 11th March 2012
Ramage says...
I dont believe you can say the Stormers are one of the worst teams in the competition but you can about the other two even if Mitchell is giving it his best. As far as the Hammet bashers are concerned a few battles against minor or weak opposition is not the the worrying factor for the one game where the opposition was a good one the Canes capitulated lets wait and judge how they do against the other NZ conference teams starting with the Highlanders on Sat.
@Island Power have you not noted the sad demise of the Western Force since the introduction of Graham as the coach. They are winning plenty of ball but seem to be clueless about using it. This has happened all last year as well as this year. His problem is the team lacks a real play maker and team controller at 5/8 and it is showing out. As for the Rabbles now they have stretched the Super Rugby Champions, who we know are the beacon of Super Rugby, and made them fight for their win then surely they have lifted themselves of the bottom of the heap and consigned others there. It will become more interesting when these Australian teams start playing teams from the other conferences. The Brumbies were somewhat fortunate to receive a last minute reprieve to claw out a win over what is clearly the weakest South African team. It will also be interesting to see how they go against the two weakest NZ teams the Crusaders and Blues lol.
Posted 03:52 11th March 2012
sandal says...
@ isthatrightref says...
""How will the Hammett-bashers explain this?""
Yes, it's true that Hammett-bashers such as myself have a little egg over our faces after the past two games. But not that much -- remember what a disaster the Canes were last year. Remember, too, that Henry, Hanson and Smith decided that four Hammett discards/refugees were good enough to play in a World Cup final. And consider that the Canes have 13 more games to go this season. A win over the Force might seem bugger all in the end.
Still, well done to the Canes, of course. I hope they continue to do well.
@ABlack
I didn't see this game. How good was Savea? I ask because I am surprised at your saying he has made the transition to Super XV "effortlessly". He was damned useless last year, a classic example of someone who had bullied their way through junior rugby with his strength and speed but whose lack of brains was exposed at a higher level.
Posted 21:39 10th March 2012
jonesy2 says...
ah i thought the force would be a force but they are just terrible. the hurricanes however are very very good as much as one thought hammett had lost the plot he has got a hell of a team here. perenara, barrett, taylor, all future all black superstars. brilliantly lead by the best outside centre of all time after tana
Posted 04:37 10th March 2012
kahui says...
canes r back!!!!!!
Posted 02:47 10th March 2012
Carpelone says...
It seems that the Canes are clicking. Even after the trip back.
Posted 23:11 09th March 2012
sandal says...
Gosh, I am astonished.
It appears that in the face of all the dismissals by the pundits, and all the criticism of the coach and the administration (and I include myself on both counts), the Hurricanes have developed a powerful team spirit and decided to prove everyone wrong.
It must be remembered, however, that the Canes' three opponents till now would be among the weakest teams in the competition.
I am sorry for Nathan Sharpe that this special game for him was ruined. What an astonishing achievement 150 games is! He has carried the Force through difficult years, when he might have been playing for a much better team. Sharpe is a player and a man I greatly admire. He has always shown great spirit and honesty, and he has been a damned fine player as well.
Posted 22:02 09th March 2012
Ramage says...
Looks like a long year for the Force and they seemed doomed to be one of the also rans in Super rugby. sad to see how a team that played expansive rugby under John Mitchell is so one dimensional since Graham took over. Perhaps his last year?
Posted 21:16 09th March 2012
isthatrightref says...
How will the Hammett-bashers explain this?
Posted 20:23 09th March 2012
ABlack says...
Most teams will be looking over their shoulder at the canes from here on in.Dont write off the canes this season anymore....... the young guys like Barrett,Shields,Savea, Toomaga-Allen and now Perenara have made the transition to S15 effortlessly. Same is happening in the Highlanders,Chiefs young brigades
Posted 20:10 09th March 2012
ABlack says...
Perenara is another one of the new crop of NZ halfbacks that are doing well this year, add him with Aaron Smith, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and NZ halfback stocks are looking the best for a long time.
Posted 19:53 09th March 2012
GCP_JONES says...
Alright Sandal,
2 wins out of 3 on the road,its looking as though your pre season fears for the Canes may be un-founded?
Posted 13:34 09th March 2012
BigRugbyBalls says...
Today's two results have more or less confirmed that the s15 final will once again be in Brisbane. Oh well.
Posted 13:19 09th March 2012