Super 14

The Hurricanes got the first win of the Super 14 season when they beat the Blues 34-20 at the North Harbour Stadium, Albany, on Friday - as the much-vaunted new law applications caused major problems for the players.

The Blues outscored the Hurricanes by two tries to one, but nine penalties - five by flyhalf Willie Ripia and four from scrumhalf Piri Weepu - gave the Hurricanes the win in a game which also produced a yellow card for repeated offences at the breakdown.

The Blues led 17-6 after 18 minutes and 20-12 at halftime but after a poor first 40 minutes the Hurricanes came back strongly after the break and the Blues failed to score any points in the second half.

The home team seemed more intent on upsetting the visitors' progress in the second half than on continuing to play creatively themselves, and conceding one goalable penalty after another ruined their chances of victory.

The Blues scored two brilliant tries and their defence was tight, with the Hurricanes only try coming from an interception 60m out, but the Blues will have learned that winning a game while giving away so many penalties is nigh impossible.

It was a game of great contrasts for Blues flyhalf Stephen Brett, who didn't put a foot wrong in the first half but was less assured after halftime and made crucial errors.

He scored an excellent individualist try and helped set up the Blues second try, and he ran the game well as pivot initially, but the pressure appeared to get to him after the break and he struggled.

The number of penalties awarded by referee Stuart Dickinson will be a concern for all Super 14 coaches and players, but he was officiating in line with the law applications as laid down in advance of the competition and the bottom line it is the players who will have to adapt.

The Hurricanes went 3-0 up in the third minute when Alby Mathewson was penalised and Willie Ripia goaled from 40 metres out.

But just on the four minute mark it was the Blues who set the game alight.

Brett took a flat ball from an attacking line-out and raced into the gap inside Ripia and outside Scott Waldrom to score under the posts without a hand being laid on him.

Brett converted to put the Blues 7-3 ahead.

Ripia missed a penalty goal attempt from 35m out, but then after nine minutes Tony Woodcock conceded a penalty at breakdown and Ripia goaled to reduce the Blues lead to 7-6.

The penalties were flowing as the players struggled to adjust to the new law applications and in the 15th minute Brett stretched the lead to 10-6 with a penalty goal from 42m.

Then came the highlight of the half.

The Hurricanes were penalised on their 10m line for failing to release the tackled player. Rene Ranger tapped quickly and ran at the Hurricanes. The Blues continuity was superb as they won phases and ran into space before John Afoa rounded off under the posts for a magnificent team try.

Brett converted to put the Blues 17-6 ahead after 18 minutes.

In the 21st minute the Blues were penalised at a scrum and Ripia goaled his third penalty to keep the Hurricanes in touch at 17-9.

Ripia fluffed a penalty goal attempt when the Blues were penalised at breakdown - the ninth penalty awarded by referee Stuart Dickinson in just over 20 minutes.

The players on both sides were attempting to play at pace but with the game punctuated by penalties, it remained a stop-start affair.

Ripia was then successful with a penalty in the 29th minute to keep the Hurricanes in touch at 17-12, but two minutes later Brett replied with a penalty from in front of the posts inside the 22, to take the Blues into a 20-12 lead.

Just on halftime, Brett missed his first kick of the night when a penalty from 23m out and 6m in from touch flew wide of the left upright.

Two minutes into the second half Ripia made it 20-15 when the Blues backs raced ahead of a Brett kick - another law referees have been instructed to adjudicate strictly.

The Blues attacked strongly from an attack led by Joe Rokocoko and Rudi Wolf but a ruck on the goal-line followed by a penalty and then a line-out 5m out came to nought as Ripia cleared downfield.

The Hurricanes attacked with a vengeance but a Ma'a Nonu probe into the 22 led to a defensive penalty for the Blues - another breakdown infringement.

Ferocious counter-rucking by the Blues, but accurate and within the laws, was causing problems for the Hurricanes, but the visitors grew stronger as the game wore on.

Highly-touted 21-year old flyhalf Aaron Cruden got his first taste of Super 14 rugby when came on for Ripia and was immediately greeted by a heavy tackle by Blues inside centre Benson Stanley.

He stayed down for a while but stood up to play on and show glimpses of his skill, and his composure was good.

The Hurricanes played with more structure in the third quarter of the game than they had in the first half.

Nonu and Conrad Smith were causing problems for the Blues defence, but another strong attack fizzled out as they conceded another breakdown penalty inside the Blues 22.

One more Hurricanes attack was then snuffed out by yet another breakdown penalty conceded, but from the Blues attacking line-out Brett made his first mistake of the night and it was a costly error.

In the 56th minute, a long double skip pass from Brett to Wolf was intercepted out wide by left wing Hosea Gear who raced 60m to score unchallenged under the posts.

Weepu converted to make the score 22-20 and give the Hurricanes the lead for the first time since they had briefly led 3-0.

With the Hurricanes now looking a much improved team from their decidedly mediocre first half performance, a Weepu penalty from inside the 22 made it 25-20 just over an hour into the game.
 
For the first time in the game the Blues were looking a little rattled and after a very impressive first 50 minutes Brett appeared less composed under pressure.

With 12 minutes left, Isaia Toeava was sin-binned for playing the ball on the ground at a ruck and Weepu goaled the long-range penalty.

Now down 20-28, it was becoming tougher for the Blues to come back, and then a close-range Weepu penalty three minutes later stretched the deficit to 11 points (31-20).

The lead rose to 34-20 when Weepu goaled his fourth penalty in an 18 minute period.

"The second half just wasn't good enough for us," said Blues skipper Keven Mealamu immediately after the final whistle. He described his players as "very disappointed".

What changed the Hurricanes fortunes?

"In the second half we got a bit of structure," said captain Andrew Hore.

He was spot-on because it was this structure which gave his team better territory and the opportunity to capitalise on the Blues indiscretions.

Man of the Match: On first half performance it would have been Stephen Brett, but he had a rough time of it after halftime. Michael Paterson would have been happy with his debut for the Hurricanes and new skipper Andrew Hore led impressively from the front. But our Man of the Match was Hurricanes scrumhalf Piri Weepu. He was skilful as ever, but it was his composure under pressure that was really outstanding.

Scorers:

For the Blues:

Tries: Brett, Afoa
Cons: Brett 2
Pens: Brett 2

For the Hurricanes:

Try: Gear
Con: Weepu
Pens: Ripia 5, Weepu 4

Yellow card: Isaia Toeava (Blues, 68 - repeated infringement at the breakdown)

Teams:

Blues: 15 Rudi Wulf, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Paul Williams.

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Karl Lowe, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 David Smith.

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

By Len Kaplan