Rebels feel Canes’ wrath
WHEN Jordie Barrett and his Hurricanes review their 47-20 win over the Rebels in the Super Rugby PaciƝc quarterƝnal, perhaps they could be kind enough to send the players from the doomed club in Melbourne some ƞowers and chocolates.
Yes, the Hurricanes scored seven tries in Wellington to beat the Rebels on Saturday night and destroy their lofty dreams of staying alive for another week before the inevitable termination, but it wasn’t all smiles and hugs for the home side.Barrett, who captained the side because Brad Shields was listed on the bench, admitted as much after the game.
The Rebels really gave it to his team early doors.You wouldn’t know it from looking at the Ɲnal numbers, but the Rebels, no doubt playing on a wave of emotion, surprised the Hurricanes by upsetting their lineout and tackled like men who didn’t mind if they ended the game looking like they had been scraped by a squadron of giant cheese graters.
The Hurricanes scored just two tries in the Ɲrst half, one before both teams retreated for their halftime oranges, and appeared nervous and lacked cohesion for long periods; it was as if they knew everyone picked them to breeze into the semis, and that the weight of expectation had become a burden.
Then came the triplewhammy after the game re-started, as forwards Brayden Iose, Asafo Aumua and Devon Flanders ran in tries for the home side to open-up a 29 point lead.But was before the Rebels then delivered a double-punch of their own; right wing Lachie Anderson scored two tries within a couple of minutes, making the Hurricanes swallow heavily and refocus. This, remember, was a contest between the top-ranked side and a team that only scraped into the playoffs.
The Rebels were a brave bunch, eager, no doubt, to poke a couple of Ɲngers in the direction of the administrators who said their club had to be mothballed.
Late tries to the Hurricanes’ replacement players Du’Plessis KiriƝ and Kini Naholo, which was dubious, simply rubbed the Rebels noses in it.
The Rebels entered the contest with an admirable mindset; they defended their line like maniacs, keeping the Hurricanes scoreless in the opening 20 minutes for the Ɲrst time this season.