Neemia Tialata: Hurricanes prop celebrated his century with a draw
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The Chiefs and Hurricanes settled for an 18-18 draw in Hamilton on Friday, with both sides scoring two tries each.
Played in wet conditions, Chiefs pivot Stephen Donald had a chance to win the match at the death but his drop goal attempt was charged down, leaving Cory Jane to bang the ball into touch.
In the end, it was probably a fair result as both teams worked tirelessly throughout in a rather dire encounter hampered by rain.
The first half belonged to the Chiefs after leading 15-5 at the break. But the Hurricanes stormed back in the second half, and outscored the hosts by 13 points to three.
It's been a a turbulent week for the Hurricanes after coach Mark Hammett announced All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Andrew Hore would not be offered contracts next season.
But both Hore and Nonu rose above their personal disappointments to play important roles in leading the Hurricanes' comeback. Hore scored the Hurricanes' only try of the first half and Nonu created a brilliant second-half try for Hosea Gear which helped tie the scores.
Aaron Cruden also landed a conversion and two penalties to complete the fightback.
For the Chiefs, Richard Kahui and Isaac Ross both scored tries, while Donald was on target with a conversion and two penalties.
The draw means the Chiefs have been left in last place in the New Zealand conference.
The Chiefs struck first when Chiefs lock Craig Clarke charged down a Cruden kick and Kahui followed through to score an opportunist try. Donald added the extras and the Chiefs led 7-0.
Donald succeeded with a penalty from 40 metres out, increasing the early advantage to 10 points inside as many minutes.
Cruden set up a prime attacking chance, stealing the ball off Chiefs winger Stitveni Sitivatu, kicking ahead and forcing a line-out inside the home side's 22.
The Chiefs' defensive screen kept them out once but not from a subsequent line-out.
Hore and lock Jeremy Thrush both drove at the line unsuccessfully, but a second thrust by the skipper saw him come up with his 19th Super Rugby try.
The next stanza of the game was mostly an arm-wrestle, before a dropped ball from the Hurricanes and another Chiefs hack ahead upfield created a scrum under the Hurricanes posts, leading directly to a try to lock Ross. Donald missed the conversion, but the Chiefs' lead was now back to 10 points at the break.
The Hurricanes drew first blood two minutes into the second half by scoring a sizzling try to Gear, created by a powerful bust by Nonu who scorched through two defenders and linked up with Jane, centre Alapati Leiua and finally Gear. Cruden added the icing with his conversion to close the score to 15-12.
Cruden made it all square at 15-15 with a penalty dead in front of the posts, bringing up his 100th point of the season in the process.
With steady rain now falling, Donald pulled the Chiefs back into the lead with a penalty.
Both sides had opportunities for more points throughout the middle stages of the second half, but another Donald penalty hit the uprights and Hurricanes winger Julian Savea put a foot in touch before crossing the tryline.
Cruden then kicked another penalty and the game was all locked up at 18-18 with 11 minutes left, but it proved to the last points scored in the match.
The scorers:
For Chiefs:
Tries: Kahui, Ross
Con: Donald
Pens: Donald 2
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Hore, Gear
Con: Cruden
Pens: Cruden 2
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Dwayne Sweeney, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam , 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Matt Vant Leven, 19 TBC, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Tim Nanai-Williams, 22 Jackson Willison.
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Alapati Leiua, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Mark Reddish/Karl Lowe, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Jayden Hayward, 22 Richard Buckman.
Referee: Steve Walsh
Comments
carpelone says...
Bwin pays the draw from 18 to 20 times. It means that the lucky guy who betted on the draw of Hamilton and jo'burg games had nearly 400 times the bet.
Was just kidding, a little bit frustrated for having lost my bucks
Posted 22:26 13th June 2011
sandal says...
Inappropriate journalism cliche no 263:
"The Chiefs and Hurricanes settled for an 18-18 draw in Hamilton on Friday ...
Watching those last few minutes, it looked to me anything like these two teams were settling for a draw. And why would the Chiefs do that? "Come on guys, let's make do with coming last in the New Zealand conference." Yeah, right, as they say.
Posted 06:57 12th June 2011
sandal says...
@Ramage
I think you have hit the mark with Trinats. Something has made him a bitter man.
I am surprised that Planet Rugby still post his puerile comments. But perhaps they are short on Australian contributions ...
Posted 02:30 12th June 2011
sandal says...
@ Carpelone
The TAB, the only domestically authorised bookmaker in New Zealand, rarely offers odds on a draw for rugby matches, and it didn't for this game. Instead, punters collect half-odds for their bet.
So that conspiracy theory goes down the drain, as it deserves to. You only needed to see the looks on the players' faces at the final whistle -- there were 30 very, very disappointed people.
But if you want to expose 30-plus players and numerous officials for contriving a draw, take your evidence to the media ...
Posted 02:26 12th June 2011
dylster says...
@ Ramage, Carpelone
thanks for the posts, that clears it up, my understanding of the rule was wrong! In that case Munro had a blinder!
Agreed on the chat between Hore and Munro, was hilarious the amount of cheek he gave the ref...i caught 2 pieces of Hore wisdom "we should have had a penalty 93m down there Vinnie!" and talking bout Mils - "should have been a penalty, hes had 94 tests, he knows what hes doing" or along those lines
i think more of a worry in the WC will be how the nothern hemisphere refs rule on the breakdown / tackle ball area..i can already see myself ripping my hair out at mccaw/pocock/brussow penalties
Posted 21:59 11th June 2011
Carpelone says...
@ Ramage
Your comment is spot on. This is how we mean to play the game in SA. According to the laws, you are right in the case of a tackled one. Similarly for the defender, there should be clearly a time in which the tackler has to leave, get back on his feet before getting his hands back in.
In previous posts, I pointed out this in some occasions where Kiwi sides prevailed on SA's ones (i.e. Crusaders versus Stormers and Sharks) with a NZ's refereeing. I called for clarification (I did not mean that NZ's or SA's referees are biased in favour of their fellow countrymen) The point is that this is a crucial part of the game where you win or lose matches.
NZ's referees allow continuity in the movement (favouring the defender and counterattack options), SA's ones don't (favouring possession).
I have not see the match, so I can not comment on the highlight you mentioned. But I think you got the point.
In the RWC, this will be crucial.
Posted 11:48 11th June 2011
Ramage says...
@dylster I agree Munro refereed well he was calm at ease and was able to have a joke with the players. The running commentary between him and Hore was hilarious, a bit hard to understand Hore though. Unlike the commentators I dont think the mouthguard was to blame.
The one you disagree with was that the one where over him being held or not in a tackle. If it was then the ruling as I understand it, if correctly, is that a player brought to ground in a tackle, as Gear was, and not held must let the ball go, get to his feet, regather the ball and then continue thus as Gear didnt let the ball go he was penalised. I understand your disagreement as over this year I have seen a very hard ruling on this issue being applied by the South African referees whereas it seems to me it has not been so strictly refereed by the NZers. As the Aussie referees dont feature in games and one is a NZer and the other is Dickinson I'm not sure what they rule. Perhaps its an area that needs some clarification. mind you this is only an observation. Be interested to hear from the Saffa correspondents as to how they see it.
Posted 04:14 11th June 2011
KiwiLad says...
Ramage, I suspect Trinats suffers from a deep seated inferiorty complex.
He has spent to many hours in front of the TV watching Aussie teams of all shapes and sizes getting their backsides walloped by teams from across the Tasman.
I suspect this insults his thinly veiled sense of pride in all things Aussie, and reminds him of his countrys early times and the fact that they were 2nd class citizens and thieves..
Posted 23:21 10th June 2011
dylster says...
Also credit where its due Vinnie Munro did an awesome job tonight, reckon we are all to keen to criticise the refs but how often do we comment when they do a good job?!
He let the game flow well and didnt do a 'look at me i got the whistle' Dickinson. Only the one call i didnt agree with the penalty on Gear for being held in the tackle. AND he spotted the forward passes!!
Posted 22:59 10th June 2011
trippa says...
Tri-nats the same kiwis that make up a good portion of your precious reds I believe ,,, although I think you somehow just got the School Boy 2nd XV castoffs for the reds ... the ones who knew they would never make it playing Rugby in NZ at a national level so went to an easy place to look good. Coaches as well it would seem. ;)
Posted 14:59 10th June 2011
Carpelone says...
@ Trinats
Mind both Ireland and Italy first......
Posted 13:50 10th June 2011
Ramage says...
One day I will be surpprised and actually find Trinats might say something good about NZ. We know he can say some good things about NZers, usually the ones playing for Australian teams. I wonder if Trinats had a NZ school teacher who used to punish his naughty deeds as a schoolboy because his petulance and hatred of NZ is penned every week here. Grow up Trinats you are such bore. Go peddle your xenophobia at One nation meetings where you will be more than welcome and if your are like your heroine Pauline and dont understand you can always look up the meaning in a dictionary.
Posted 13:40 10th June 2011
Jazz says...
Hurricanes always the under achievers. Speaking as a Saffa, I have always enjoyed their brand of rugby the most of the Kiwi franchises. They certainly have been one of the most entertaining teams in the competition. However, the new coach seem to have taken that something from them. I hope they get it back.
Posted 13:28 10th June 2011
dylster says...
I agree Kiwilad, Cruden is looking better and better. His kicking is a lot stronger.
Daibok hes talking about Quade Cooper, the kiwi that improved the IQ on both sides of the Tasman when he moved to Oz.
Hammett what have you done?! Nonu and Hore both looked strong tonight...Im not looking forward to next years Super 15
Posted 12:40 10th June 2011
houston_11 says...
Great to see Nonu/Hore playing well after recent news. As great as his partnership is with Smith, it would be great to see a partnership with Kahui next season.... if he doesn't head north.
Posted 12:36 10th June 2011
DaiBok says...
KiwiLad, could you enlighten us non Kiwis. We know, and are not impressed by, Duck Donald, but who is the burglar acrooss the channel?
Posted 11:48 10th June 2011
KiwiLad says...
Aaron Cruden improves weekly, Under pressure against the Wallabies last year he looked under done, today he played Steven the Duck Donald and looked well in control... Too early to say he is the heir apparent to the ABs 10 spot, but loking more and more like the goods..
And unlike the burglar across the channel, he can tackle and kick goals.
Posted 10:50 10th June 2011
Carpelone says...
This smells like a set up match.
Draw pays a lot....
Posted 10:19 10th June 2011