Drama: The Hurricanes left it late
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The Hurricanes needed a controversial try after the final hooter to claim a crucial 28-25 victory over the Chiefs in a pulsating clash at Westpac Stadium on Friday.
The result means that the Hurricanes can still make the play-offs while the Chiefs' second consecutive loss leaves the door open for the Stormers to finish the regular season at the summit of the overall standings.
If the South African side can beat the Rebels on Saturday, they will claim the top spot and with it a potential home final.
The game ended in dramatic fashion as Dane Coles crashed over with the last play of the game and television match official Mike Fraser decided to award the try despite a lack of clear evidence that the hooker had grounded the ball correctly in the middle of a pile of bodies.
It's a decision that will have massive repercussions for the play-offs as the 'Canes provisionally climb to fourth in the overall standings ahead of Saturday's six fixtures.
But perhaps it was a fitting end to a thrilling six-try fixture that deserved a big finish.
The dry conditions were ideal for running rugby but the strong, swirling wind made goal kicking a nightmare and both place kickers struggled at the tee.
Two tries from Julian Savea had helped the Hurricanes to a 18-15 lead at half time but an intercept try from Aaron Cruden around the hour mark looked to have snatched victory for the visitors.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow gave the Chiefs the early lead in controversial circumstances, darting over from five metres out, much to the dismay of the Hurricanes, who felt referee Jonathan Kaplan had obstructed Jason Eaton from tackling the scrum-half.
It didn't take long for the 'Canes to reply though and Savea rounded off a flowing team effort in the corner after Beauden Barrett had put the hosts on the scoreboard with a penalty. Conrad Smith was at the heart of the move, making the initial break before providing the perfect pass a few phases later.
Barrett's conversion attempt was off target but Savea was on hand to score the Hurricanes' second try on 22 minutes from close range. Barrett found the mark this time to give the men in yellow a 15-7 lead.
But the home side hit a major hurdle when Kaplan handed Ben May a yellow card for a late hit on Sonny Bill Williams.
Cruden pulled three points back before Ben Tameifuna bashed his way over the whitewash to level the scores at 15-all following a driving maul with just seconds left on May's sin-bin period.
Cruden was also struggling with the wind and couldn't slot the conversion but Barrett could split the uprights from long range after the hooter to give the hosts a three-point head start at the interval.
It took 17 minutes for the first points to be scored in the second period and they came in unexpected fashion as Cruden intercepted an inside pass from Barrett to cruise home under the sticks and leave himself a simple conversion.
Barrett needed two attempts to add three more points and narrow the gap to just one at 22-21 going into the final quarter but Cruden restored the lead with 15 minutes left to play.
And so it remained in the closing stages with the Hurricanes throwing the kitchen sink at the Chiefs defence in a desperate attempt to keep their season alive.
With time up, Coles dove into the carnage on the edge of the tryline. The debate is set to rage on for many moons over whether he grounded the ball or did so with an illegal second movement...
The 'Canes now face an anxious wait as the Crusaders, Bulls, Sharks and Reds can all still finish above them.
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Savea 2, Coles
Cons: Barrett 2
Pens: Barrett 3
For Chiefs:
Tries: Kerr-Barlow, Tameifuna, Cruden
Cons: Cruden 2
Pens: Cruden
Yellow card: May (Hurricanes - 28th min - late tackle)
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reg Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Jayden Hayward.
Chiefs: 15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Robbie Robinson, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Comments
new_j4a says...
@cuw3100, thanks, now we'll have to think of another homework assignment for D4tress so that he can upgrade his ref ticket from barfly to on the field.
Posted 10:39 14th July 2012
new_j4a says...
@kitch who says.."also what do they say if a ref gets in the way of play?.. one could argue that whoever it was wouldnt have stopped the try but thats not the refs responsibility to decide! " Actually, it is. That is EXACTLY what the refs responsibility is....to decide what would have happened....for off side, for infringements for which a penalty try might be awarded, for obstruction. You appear to be watching a game that is different to that which you think are watching. Would reading the Laws help to close the gap? Worth a try?
Posted 09:23 14th July 2012
cuw3100 says...
@ new_j4a / D4tress : argue about this boyz :) LOL
LAW 22.4 OTHER WAYS TO SCORE A TRY
(d) Momentum try. If an attacking player with the ball is tackled short of the goal line but the player¿s momentum carries the player in a continuous movement along the ground into the opponents¿ in-goal, and the player is first to ground the ball, a try is scored.
(e) Tackled near the goal line. If a player is tackled near to the opponents¿ goal line so that this player can immediately reach out and ground the ball on or over the goal line, a try is scored.
(f) In this situation, defending players who are on their feet may legally prevent the try by pulling the ball from the tackled player¿s hands or arms, but must not kick the ball.
Posted 09:10 14th July 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ new_j4a says... just thought I'd get a completely unfounded opinion in ahead of all the other unfounded ref bashing...
Dangerous tactic, that, there are some on here so po-faced they don't know when the p1ss is being taken & you're liable to be told "you, sir, are an idiot" or some such...
Regarding the Coles try, based on what I saw in real time plus bits of a replay while getting ready for work this morning, I'd say firstly that Kaplan could justifiably have binned as many as 3 Chiefs in the leadup to it; and that while I still haven't seen a replay showing the ball grounded, watching them in real time it seemed to me that a try probably had been scored. Must be doubly gutting for Chiefs fans after the Ellis decision last week but justified imo.
Having been a Chiefs supporter for the night I'm afraid I now want them to lose their semi-final, provided it's against the Sharks & provided further that the Crusaders have in the meantime beaten the Stormers in Cape Town: I have no evidence to back it up but my gut feeling is that S12/14/15 Finals have almost always been won by the side who travelled the shorter distance to get there: a semi in CT follwed by a Final in Durban seems far more do-able than CT then Hamilton or, God forbid, Canberra...
Posted 08:02 14th July 2012
62Lofu says...
That was a marvellous game of rugby right from start to finish. That's been an epic season for the Hurricanes, who were all but written off before the season started. Conrad Smith has been truly inspirational as a captain this year.
As for the referee rulings, there were some questionable calls, such as marching Conrad 10M for kicking the ball away, the Chiefs did the same several times throughout the game for no penalty. For me the first Chiefs try and the game winner both looked fine. Admittedly, Kaplan appears to be blocking a player (Corey Jane), but the camera from behind the goal line shows that Kerr Barlow was running a terrific angle and had a super low body position, Jane would not appear to have been able to prevent the score even with a clear run. The final try was pretty crowded, from the camera's perspective, but there was a clear view (briefly) of the ball well and truly in contact with the ground. Fact is, the try was awarded. And that capped an almighty performance from both teams.
Posted 05:07 14th July 2012
sandal says...
@APV1
Please don't mention any more of England's real ales. I've nearly ruined my keyboard with drooling.
Landlord, Director's, Brakspears, Abbot .... aaagggghhhh ......
Posted 03:14 14th July 2012
sandal says...
@rugbylover
I agree with your every word. The irony, however, is that the Canes have succeeded the Chiefs as the great spoilers of New Zealand rugby. After the fashion of the Chiefs of many years, the Canes this season have lost to both the Brumbies and the Cheetahs when in seemingly unassailable positions. They did so in typically Canes fashion, however, by playing happy clappy rugby. To complete their role as NZ spoilers, they have then beaten substantially better Chiefs and Crusaders teams. Oh dear.
But how gloriously typical of the Canes to rise to the occasion. Many people will argue that this result vindicates Mark Hammett's clearout last season. Nonsense, it simply demonstrates that the team is bigger than the individual, as the Canes have continued to assert their true nature. The Canes, still, are what they are.
So the forwards fought bravely, reaching near parity when I had expected them to be blown away. The strength of the Canes' scrum on Friday probably owed a lot to the work this week of Mike Cron. After all, the scrum had been terrible this year, despite all of Hammett's experience.
Till the final quarter, this was a game of astonishing skill. Thereafter fatigue lowered the quality, though not the excitement or the ambition. I can't help but reflect that it is games of this nature that enable the All Blacks to play with such ambition and skill. It is no wonder the Irish national team, who have just been in New Zealand, could not compete with the All Blacks on the skills and vision front when their club sides, however strong, play so conservatively.Super Rugby players develop higher skill levels than international players from many other tier one nations.
Beauden Barrett still has a lot of development to do. Never mind the intercept, for which I don't really blame him, he kicked and distributed poorly.
Posted 03:09 14th July 2012
Sprogrugby says...
D4tress...
I haven't seem the game but (also as a ref) when a player gets 'stopped' (not a reference in law, so I'm assuming you mean tackled and is actually on the ground) he is not immediately obliged to release. He does in fact have a number of options (ref 15.5). '2nd movement' is also not a reference in law although I understand what you're trying to say (this is a often misused term that you hear from some that don't understand the law - I'm not saying this is you btw). Is it possible that what you say was the 2nd movement was actually him exercising his right to reach out with the ball once and AFTER he has been tackled and brought to ground ? This is entirely legal.
I'm not trying to be one of those troll things (I'm not a regular poster), simply trying to engage in healthy debate in the hope I'll learn a snippet of something new or see something a different way to assist my own game.
Posted 02:09 14th July 2012
kiwilad says...
The chokers tag has been passed from the ABs to the Chiefs....
Posted 00:53 14th July 2012
safehands says...
@noordtransvaal.....the difference between Saffas and Kiwis moaning about the ref is that kiwis don't threaten to maim refs because their team lost an important match, they don't set up web pages filled with venomous bile spouting hatred at the ref and don't run on to the pitch to assault referees cause they don't have the wherewithal to control their own emotions...
Posted 00:33 14th July 2012
runnrugby says...
Being a Blues supporter :( this was a great exciting game of rugby to watch. The last try may have been controversial but the chiefs had themselves to blame for letting it get to that point. The difference between the two sides in the last 10mins or so was that the canes were playing to win while the chiefs were playing not to lose. Kerr-Barlow kicked possession away and again the chiefs scrum got owned as it did against the crusaders last week at crucial times, while the canes held possession and attacked right up to the end.
Conrad Smith was my man of the match. Tackled his heart out and again that awkward running style of his got him further than it looked like it should.
Posted 00:18 14th July 2012
kitch says...
d4tress..you are correct that the player must release the ball immediately but according to irb laws isnt the player allowed to place the ball first?..i guess it depends on what you interpret immediately as! If we were to take this law literally to the letter then there be a whole lot of penalties!! ..be an exciting game tho!
also isnt it first the responsibility for the tackler to release/get off the tackled player so that he can release/play the ball??
this to me is similar to last week where the supporting players came in in an attempt to clear the tackler and consequently pushed him across the line. I dont think barlows hand is that big, and it only takes the point of the ball to touch the grass and BINGO..trytime..benefit of doubt
what do the laws say re players going around the side of the ruck and taking opposition players out behnd the ruck??
also what do they say if a ref gets in the way of play?.. one could argue that whoever it was wouldnt have stopped the try but thats not the refs responsibility to decide!
what do the laws say about tackling around the head?..illegal?
what do the laws say about the front row of a scrum popping up?..illegal?
what about when the chiefs were penalised and barlow runs away with the ball,.. is that illegal
Of course being a ref yourself, you should be able to enlighten us all on such matters?
my point is there were a number of crap calls/non calls by the ref in this game, as with any game, and being a crusader/canes fan of coarse i think the canes deserved the win!!
Posted 22:44 13th July 2012
kitch says...
@nordtransvaal..name a country that doesnt !.. but there is only one that has sent death threats, only one has childishly wore justice for bakkies armbands, only one where a fat slob ran onto the pitch and actually attacked the ref!!, and only one who went to the media crying about some irb conspiracy against them.!!
Posted 21:17 13th July 2012
JayStarr says...
After Jonathan Kaplan stood in Eaton's sight and way to help Kerr-Barlow cross, then gave a ridiculous yellow card, which helped the Chiefs to score their second try, as well as completely disregarding the highest high tackle you can possibly have by SBW, while being completely pedantic about other things the Hurricanes did, etc. etc. etc.... I AM GLAD that the Hurricanes won with a "controversial" try. KARMA.
What a great game! And thank you Hurricanes for showing "winning rugby" doesn't have to be boring rugby. And of course, thanks for helping the Stormers ;)
Posted 21:05 13th July 2012
new_j4a says...
@D4tress, Still downloading the game so can't comment `on the facts, but check the Laws: the player does not have to release the ball. He has several options which include scoring a try, popping a pass, etc. I will leave you to check your Laws for the exact wording, but here is an interesting quote from wikipedia which I include only because it points out the history of the "double movement" confusion:
If an attacking player is tackled short of the goal-line but immediately reaches out and places the ball on or over the goal-line, a try is scored. (This is a direct contrast to rugby league which would award a penalty for "double movement", see below. There is occasionally confusion amongst spectators and players at community levels of the game and an incorrect protest of "double movement" is a common one at English rugby union matches.)....and Irish it would seem?
What gym? Not Westwood at Leopardstown Racecourse in Foxrock by any chance?
Posted 20:55 13th July 2012
brands says...
@ D4tress
your take on the game is laughable at best, what do you ref? syncronised swimming?
Posted 20:23 13th July 2012
D4tress says...
@new_j4a: For the final try, the player had the ball in hand and dived for the line. He was tackled during the motion of diving for the line and his head was over the line, but the ball, held against his chest was short of the line. He was stopped dead momentarily. At this point he is obliged to release the ball.
He then appeared to shove his body forward (using his toes / knees?) and managed to get the ball over the line, bus since he had been stopped dead this was a 2nd movement (illegal). By this stage the ball was clearly on top of one of his hands and a defenders hand had been wedged underneath.
Even on first viewing it didn't look like a try. I'm really surprised that Kaplan went upstairs for it.
I wasn't at the stadium as I live in Dublin. I was watching it on Sky Sports 4 on the treadmill in the gym!!
Posted 17:21 13th July 2012
noord_transvaal says...
Now what do we have here ?! Kiwi's having a whinge about the ref ? tut tut tut... thought only Saffa's blame the ref when they lose
Posted 17:15 13th July 2012
new_j4a says...
@APV1, Castle or Corona,...or here's a clue--Badger Golden Glory... :)
Posted 16:26 13th July 2012
tweedledee49 says...
as a Chiefs fan i will say that was not Kaplans best and that some controversial calls were made in favour of the Chiefs. Chiefs deserved to lose that game for playing like that, eventhough it was entertaining, you cannot win the comp with defense such as that displayed tonight by the Chiefs.
I guess itll be either the Stormers or Crusaders who take the comp this year, the Chiefs best hope to win this year was to have the final in Waikato but i cannot see the rebels pulling off an upset.
Posted 16:24 13th July 2012