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Hurricanes dig deep to steer clear of the hard-charging Bulls

Hurricanes' TJ Perenara watches a replay during the Super Rugby match versus South Africa's Bulls at Westpac Stadium (Photo by Dave Lintott/AFP/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes will face the Crusaders in Christchurch next weekend in a Super Rugby semi-final after a 35-28 victory on Saturday over the Bulls which wasn’t without its difficulties despite a nightmarish recent travel scenario for the South Africans (writes Patrick McKendry of the New Zealand Herald).

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The Bulls travelled from Dunedin to Pretoria to Wellington over the past fortnight but put a huge amount of pressure on the Hurricanes, forcing them into defensive mistakes which they often impressively capitalised on.

Defending a seven-point advantage in the final minutes, the Hurricanes had to dig extremely deep to keep the hard-charging Bulls out at the end.

In the final two minutes, an Ardie Savea turnover thwarted a promising attack but the visitors got the ball back and it wasn’t over until 90 seconds after the final siren when wing Cornal Hendricks knocked it on in a mistake which shouldn’t tarnish his excellent overall performance.

The home side defended well in those moments but the earlier flaws will also be mercilessly punished by the defending champion Crusaders who romped to a fairly regulation victory over the Highlanders in their quarter-final.

Replacement wing Salesi Rayasi is sure to be in the Crusaders’ headlights if he plays next weekend. Coming on for right wing Wes Goosen after Goosen appeared to strain a hamstring when putting TJ Perenara over the Hurricanes’ first try, Rayasi scored two tries but was too easily beaten on the right touchline for wing Hendricks’ first try.

In the second half, Rayasi gave up a penalty try when intentionally knocking on a pass as a last defender, earning himself a yellow card in the process and making this victory perhaps a little more difficult than it should have been for his side.

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Hendricks was a beneficiary of more ordinary defending for his second try when he stood up All Black Jordie Barrett to go over in the right corner.

The Bulls had an early lead but the Hurricanes were soon in control and never looked seriously threatened, although Hendricks’ second try put the Bulls to within four points with 20 minutes remaining before Jordie Barrett’s penalty, and the visitors’ defence was impressive in the final stages.

They were at their best when they were direct via their massive forwards or engaged in a set piece – success which will not have gone unnoticed by the Crusaders – but were a little fragile when the ball was put in behind them and for them to get a result at Westpac Stadium nearly everything needed to go right.

Their fitness held up well despite their recent travel but they made too many handling errors to maintain pressure, although their resilience was impressive; things didn’t always go to plan but they kept charging in, and, more importantly trying things.

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Half-back Perenara was an increasingly dominant figure for the Hurricanes, as was loose forward Savea, with Beauden Barrett having his moments. But midfielder Ngani Laumape, usually a big danger man for the Hurricanes, was kept quiet by the Bulls, who had a good performer in his opposite Jesse Kriel.

“It was great character from the boys – we had a long four-week tour here and then had one game back before coming here again,” Bulls first-five Handre Pollard said afterwards. “We let in a few soft tries but the fight from the boys was unbelievable.”

Hurricanes 35 (Salesi Rayasi 2, TJ Perenara, Ben Lam tries; Beauden Barrett pen, 3 cons, Jordie Barrett 2 pens)

Bulls 28 (Cornal Hendricks 2,Warrick Gelant tries, penalty try; Handre Pollard 3 cons)

WATCH: The Short Ball on why the Blues should focus on next season, not Beauden Barrett

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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