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Dejected: Hurricanes reflect - Source: Photosport -
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The shellshocked Hurricanes have no doubt the NSW Waratahs have the firepower to finally break their Super rugby title drought in 2010.
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper and All Blacks centre Conrad Smith hailed NSW's record-setting attacking unit as simply awesome after the Waratahs secured a fourth semi-final berth in six years with Friday night's 32-16 bonus-point win at the SFS.
The NSW back three of fullback Kurtley Beale and wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner were almost unstoppable, while centres Rob Horne and Tom Carter won the decisive midfield battle against Test stars Smith and Ma'a Nonu.
Beale collected two brilliant chip-chase tries, while man-of-the-match Mitchell rocketed to the top of the tournament's tryscoring list with his eighth and ninth five-pointers of the season.
"They played really well. I would love to be on their team the way they were (playing), that (style of) football," Smith said.
"Their whole backline was operating well and just the offloads they were getting away .Drew and Lachie and all that, it's a tough team to stop when they're like that.
"Rob was particularly good .they sapped the life out (of
us)."
No answer
The Hurricanes had been riding a five-match winning streak and were themselves hopeful of qualifying for the playoffs, but they had no answer to NSW's scintillating attack.
"At one point there in the first half, it was amazing," Smith marvelled.
"Every pass (by the Waratahs) was sticking. Every chip kick would bounce into their hands.
"I know being in the Hurricanes that we have nights like that when it's your night."
Widely condemned as boring in recent seasons, the Waratahs have
so far racked up a franchise-record 385 points in 2010, including
45 tries, another record haul.
Free-scoring
While the Tahs wouldn't learn their semi-final opponents - or venue - until after the Bulls-Stormers clash in Cape Town early on Sunday morning , Cooper had no doubt the free-scoring New South Welshmen were capable of snaring the title.
"If they can control their set pieces and keep attacking the way they are, they'll go well," Cooper said.
Cooper said the NSW attack had a beautiful blend of control and unpredictability, admitting the Waratahs' clever kicks behind the Hurricanes defensive line had caught his side off guard.
"We really didn't think they would do that," the Canes coach said.
"We thought they'd keep pretty structured and build.
"We couldn't keep the ball and, every time we gave them the ball back, they seemed to punish us.
"We tried our hearts out. Our defence was going pretty well but, in the end, it took its toll."
