THE HURRICANES EXTENDED their unbeaten start to the 2015 Super Rugby season with a 25-20 win over the Stormers in Wellington this morning, scoring a contender for try of the season in the process.
This latest success for the New Zealand franchise – whose forwards are coached by John Plumtree – means they have won seven from seven to push themselves firmly to the top of the Kiwi division and the overall table.
The Conrad Smith-captained Canes built up a formidable 25-3 half-time lead against the Stormers, with the in-form Nehe Milner-Skudder, explosive wing Julian Savea and out-half Beauden Barrett all scoring tries.
The third of those efforts, finished by Barrett, was a remarkable team try that saw the Canes run out from just in front of their own line and featured sublime offloading. All Black Barrett added the other 10 points from the tee.
However, the Stormers were much improved after the break and kept the Hurricanes scoreless in the second half, while crossing the whitewash themselves through centre Huw Jones and earning a penalty try.
Despite those scores, and further points from Demetri Catrakilis and Kurt Coleman’s kicking, the South African outfit could not overhaul the Canes lead in a game that was poorly refereed by Rohan Hoffmann.
Nonetheless, the Hurricanes will head into their bye weekend in round nine utterly satisfied with the opening portion of their season.
A backline including options as strong as Barrett, Savea, TJ Perenara, Conrad Smith, Nonu, Cory Jane, Milner-Skudder, Jason Woodward, Rey Lee-Lo and James Marshall was always going to be hugely threatening in attack.
Perhaps most encouragingly, the Hurricanes have made strides of improvement up front under the tutelage of Plumtree, who worked as Ireland’s forwards coach alongside Joe Schmidt for the 2014 Six Nations success.
His departure from Irish shores was seen as a heavy loss after his fine work here, and the positive start the Canes have made this season will only further Plumtree’s reputation.
The Reds were beaten 23-15 by Tony McGahan’s Rebels in the second game of the Super Rugby weekend, with a red card for lock James Horwill after just 20 minutes proving costly in the end.
Tomorrow morning’s clash between the Chiefs and the Blues [07.35 Irish time] promises to be entertaining, while the Sharks v Crusaders in Durban [14.00] should be an intriguing battle too.
