The Hurricanes played the Lions at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Chiefs won 33-18. Another bonus point given.
Kick off: 08h35 (RSA time).
| Hurricanes | Lions | |
| Tries | Paterson (14th min), Weepu (40th min), Hore (51st min), Smith (68th min) | Minnie (24th min), Clever (43rd min) |
| Pens | Ripia (4th min, 9th min, 33rd min) | Rose (50th min, 54th min) |
| Conv | Ripia (40th min, 52nd min) | Rose (24th min) |
| DGs | 0 – | 0 – |
Hurricanes’ recent form at home: (W, W, W, W, L, W, W, L, W, W)
· The Hurricanes conceded only two defeats at the hands of the Vodacom Bulls (14-19) and the HSBC Waratahs (22-26) in Wellington last year.
· In 2008, the hosts suffered a 13-20 defeat against the Crusaders and held the Sharks to a 13-13 draw at the Westpac Stadium.
Auto & General Lions recent form on the road: (L, W, L, L, L, L, L, L, L, L)
· The Johannesburg franchise has won one (31-20 victory over the Reds) out of their last 10 away games.
· The Auto & General Lions has never defeated the Hurricanes in Wellington in the history of Super Rugby.
Teams
Hurricanes:
John Schwalger, Andrew Hore (c), Neemia Tialata, Bryn Evans, Jason Eaton, Michael Paterson, Karl Lowe, Rodney So’oialo, Piri Weepu, Willie Ripia, David Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Cory Jane Reserves: Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison, Nick Crosswell, Scott Waldrom, Tyson Keats, Aaron Cruden, Andre Taylor
Lions:
Heinke van der Merwe, Hannes Franklin, Ross Geldenhuys, Franco van der Merwe, George Earl, Cobus Grobbelaar (c), Derick Minnie, Todd Clever, JP Joubert, Carlos Spencer, Wandile Mjekevu, Doppies la Grange, Deon van Rensburg, Tonderai Chavhanga, Earl Rose. Reserves: Charles Emslie, Kevin Buys, Jacques Lombaard, Robert Kruger, Jacques Coetzee, Walter Venter, Michael Killian.
Referee: Paul Marks
Assistant Referres : Chris Pollock (NZL), Mathew Stanish (NZL)
TMO : Mike Fraser (NZL)
44 Some good support play by the visitors and a few more phases, before American import Todd Clebver finds space on the left and goes over for the Lions’ second TRY. Rose again can’t land the kick and the score is 21-12
12 – Kicks cost, need to get them over.
Go Lions.
Morning All. Clever is having a very good game.
46 Another penalty against the Hurricanes at the restart – this os costing them early in the second half. The Hurricanes win a crucial turnbofer inside their half and launch a strong counter. Another turnover and then a penalty to the Hurricanes. Lots of early movement in the half.
Doppies now has a new surename: Le Granshey.
48 The Lions win a penalty and JP Joubert kicks the ball away – another SHOCKER by a Lions team that has very little structure. The Lions win another penalty for obstruction.
Almost a try there. Now get this penalty over Rose
50 There is still plenty of movement from the Lions and they must be given credit for keeping the ball through the phases, but most of it is latteral. Penalty to the Lions and now the referee is talking to the Hurricanes about repeated infringem,ents and there is a warning of a possible yelow card for the next offender. Rose slots the penalty to make it 15-21
Andrew Hoare sidesteps Earl Rose. And Snor thinks that Rose is Bok quality?
52 The Lions try to run it out of their 22 and an aimless kick hands the ball back to the Hurricanes. Andrew Hore sets off on a strong run and after a hand-off and sonme ordniary tackling he is over for the third TRY. Piri Weepu takes over the goal-kicking and lands the conversion to make it 28-15
28-18
54 Another penalty against a Lions team that still seems to focus more on attack than any other aspect of the game – this way they are going to excite, but win few games. Penalty to the Lions, offside by Ma’a Nonu, who also gets YELLOW CARDED and Rose slots the penalty to narrow the gap to 18-28
41 – Super Lions are not laying down. Goood love to see a team fight all the way.
GO LIONS.
Lions doing ok
They are playing well today, if Rose had his kicking boots on it could have been quite a different story
56 Knock-on by the Lions from the restart. Scrum to the Hurricanes on tthe Lions 22 – centre field. The Hurricanes wotrk their way over the Lions tryline, wityh some strong forward rushes, but the ball is held up in a pile of bodies.
58 Scrum reset and the Hurricanes are lucky they are not penalised for putting their hands on the floor and dropping the bind. Another reset.
60 The Lions win a crucial turnover at the scrum. Scrum still five metres from the Lions’ line, but they now have the feed. Another reset – the scrums are now a mess. Jacques Coetzee kicks ahead and the Lions win another scrum feed for a Hurricanes knock-on.
Super saw Rose awhile back miss at posts.
See Lions scrumming well there.
Some really good play there by Lions just to knock it on. Damn.
62 The Lions run it into the Hurricanes territory and after several waves of attacking runners they knock it on. It looked promising, but as has been the case often in this game, they fall short in the finishing department.
64 Free kick to the Hurruicanes at the scrum. Kick and chase. Knock-on by the Lions.
66 Aaron Cruden kicks deep and the Lions have to restart from inside their 22. The Lions barely manages to clear their lines.
64 Free kick to the Hurruicanes at the scrum. Kick and chase. Knock-on by the Lions.
68 Quick hands to David Smith on the left wing, but he loses the ball in the tackle. Jacques Coetzee hacks the ball downfield. The Hurricanes counter and this time David Smith holds ontop the ball as he makes the Lions pay for some sloppy defending and poor options – to score the bonus-point TRY.
70 Some ordinary handling on both sides and there’s a scrum near halfway – Hurricanes feed.
72 Strong Lions defence win a turnover. The Lions win a penalty at a tackle inside the Hurricanes 22. They opt for the line-out
74 The Hurricanes pull the maul down, but the referee rules that it was a knock-on. Free kick to the Hurricanes at the scrum – is the referee still guessing?
78 The Lions scrum is strong and the Hurricanes knock on as they try to run bad ball under pressure. The Lions are running it out of their half.
76 The Lions make a mess of their attacking line-out. And a knock-on sees them go from near the Hurricanes goal-line back to halfway – shocking stuff!
79 Some good hands by the Lions who are cghasing another bonus point. Good defence by the Hurricanes forces a turnover
80 Penalty to the Hurricanes just inside their 22. The kick is not into touch and the Lions attack again. Penalty to the Hurricanes for holding on in the tackle and the hooter goes to signal the end of the match, with the Hurricanes getting a 33-18 bonus-point win that keeps their unbeaten run intact. Join us in a short while when we head to Brisbane for the Reds against the Blues at Ballymore.
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