Hurricanes hang tough

The Hurricanes survived a red card to Scott Scrafton, notched their first win of Super Rugby Aotearoa and at the same time ended the Chiefs’ hopes, after a 25–18 win in Hamilton yesterday.

Lock Scrafton was shown a second yellow card with 15 minutes to play at FMG Stadium Waikato, but by then the visitors had done plenty enough and held off a desperate Chiefs surge in this battle of the desperates.

Both team were winless going into the match. The loss means the Chiefs are 0-4 in the eight-game competition, their hopes gone, as a crowd of 15,031 were again made to wince at their attacking struggles.

It took the hosts 65 minutes to break the Canes – by way of a penalty try as Damian Mckenzie took a quick tap and charged at the line, where an offside Scrafton was shown red by referee Ben O’keeffe, having only just been back on the field after being the sinbin scapegoat due to a team warning.

Lachlan Boshier scored with three minutes left to set up hopes of a miracle, but it was all too little too late, as the returning Jordie Barrett proved crucial for the visitors, who had Kobus van Wyk dot down for a double.

In his first game back from a shoulder injury, Barrett was the major influence, being a key force in the Canes’ good stuff, while also kicking 10 points off the tee – including a massive 60-metre effort right on halftime.

Barrett was everywhere, from the first play of the match, which saw him wind up and run over the top of Aaron Cruden. And within five minutes, the X-factor fullback was on hand to set up the opening try of the game.

From a close-range scrum, Barrett sent a huge wide ball right, which van Wyk was able to allow bounce twice, and still have plenty of time to simply fall over the line.

Mckenzie opened the Chiefs’ account via the tee, but despite a big glut of time in attacking position, the hosts couldn’t find enough continuity to find themselves a five-pointer. It’s been the story of their campaign, having scored only three tries in the three games going into this one.

Then, as if they needed any further blows to their locking stocks, they lost Naitoa Ah Kuoi following an ugly head clash with Du’plessis Kirifi, which saw the

At a glance

Hurricanes 25

(Kobus vanwyk 2, Du’plessis Kirifi tries; Jordie Barrett 2 con, 2 pen) (Penalty try, Lachlan Boshier try; Damian Mckenzie 2 pen). HT: 20-3.

match halted at the 33rd minute for an extended period as Ah Kuoi was attended to.

The 20-year-old, who plays with the word ‘Mum’ plastered on his headgear, at least gave a good wave to the applauding crowd as he was driven off.

But the home fans weren’t to be clapping much else, as the Canes piled on 13 points in the final five minutes of the first half.

Barrett slotted a penalty to restore their seven-point lead, then after a well-plucked Dane

Coles intercept of a Brad Weber pass and a strong Ardie Savea surge, Kirifi dived over off a short ball from Perenara.

That was to be upstaged by the massive Barrett penalty kick after the siren, though. From well inside his own half, with the north-easterly over his shoulder, it sailed over the posts with room to spare – his second such monster effort, after a similar success against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires in February.

Behind 20-3 at the break and needing something special to get themselves back into it, the Chiefs closed the gap by three via the boot of Mckenzie.

The Hurricanes lost Scrafton at the 50-minute mark, but despite a heap of opportunities, the Chiefs couldn’t convert.

Chiefs 18