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Richie McCaw bleeds for the cause - Source: Photosport -
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The Hurricanes have beaten the Crusaders at AMI Stadium in a
thrilling end to end match on Friday night.
They have done it in style too, prevailing 30-24 for the
first victory in their last seven Super rugby outings against
the reigning champions.
Long numbed by their constant failure against the most successful
franchise in Super rugby history, the Hurricanes showed they had at
last learned from their past lessons to repulse a Crusaders
fightback from a deficit of 12-30 with 20 minutes remaining.
With first five-eighth Piri Weepu leading the way with 15 points
from his goalkicking, the visitors overcame the late withdrawal due
to injury of All Blacks fullback Cory Jane to largely keep the
usually vocal Christchurch crowd in their seats.
Having failed to flatter in an earlier win over the Highlanders and
a loss to the Waratahs, the Hurricanes kept their mistake rate to
manageable levels while pressuring a Crusaders side lacking a true
cutting edge in the backs.
Australian referee Stu Dickinson had an influence in that he
refused to put up with constant infringing from either side, which
led to the unusual sight of Crusaders captain Richie McCaw being
warned as early as the 10th minute about the dubious, spoiling
tactics employed by his side.
Nineteen minutes later McCaw was sinbinned and during his absence
the Hurricanes jumped out to their 16-7 halftime lead when teenaged
winger Zac Guildford scored in the corner.
Guildford was the beneficiary of an angled 30m run by centre Conrad
Smith, who timed his offload to perfection for Guildford to score,
which Weepu converted to complement his three first-half
penalties.
His opposite Colin Slade did not enjoy the same success, missing
two penalties before converting a 23rd-minute try to centre Casey
Laulala.
Laulala's fourth touchdown in three matches came after winger Jared
Payne punched holes in the midfield after returning a poor kick
with interest.
The Hurricanes' at times wayward kicking game cost them after the
break, too, when they closed to 12-16 after No 8 Thomas Waldrom
retrieved a kick to launch a counter. The movement finished ith the
ball being worked wide to the left where lock Brad Thorn crossed
the tryline.
But the Hurricanes reimposed themselves just 3min later when
halfback Alby Mathewson cleaned up a loose pass, shrugged off a
tackle and skipped clear for a fortuitous try.
They continued to show composure and were rewarded with another try
to second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu in the 60th minute following a
patient build up before pouncing when a hole finally appeared in
the Crusaders' defensive screen.
The home side ensured the game retained its interest to the end
when Payne finished off a surging midfield run by replacement lock
Isaac Ross in the 70th minute.
The crowd found its voice at last as the Crusaders finally lifted
their intensity, posing series questions of the Hurricanes' resolve
as the clocked ticked down.
The volume rose further with 3min remaining when Dickinson
sinbinned Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo for playing the ball
on the ground and almost immediately the Crusaders struck when
Waldrom muscled his way over the tryline.
But the Crusaders ran out of time, leaving an eerie silence to
envelop the Christchurch match venue.
