Aaron Cruden continued his development as a potential world class flyhalf by guiding a ruthless Waikato Chiefs to the top of the Super XV standings with a 34-22 victory over the Wellington Hurricanes in Hamilton, New Zealand, yesterday.
Cruden, who grew in confidence when he started two Tests for the All Blacks against France earlier this month as world leading points scorer Daniel Carter recovered from a broken hand, created two tries and slotted 14 points with the boot.
The four-try victory moved last season’s champions to 61 points, two points ahead of Australia’s ACT Brumbies, who have played one game more than the New Zealanders. The loss ended the Hurricanes’ playoff hopes.
“We were a bit rusty in the first half and I think [showed] a bit more accuracy and ticker [heart] in the second half,” Chiefs captain Craig Clarke said in a pitchside interview. “The points are crucial as we aim to get a home semi and we have to keep winning these local derbies.”
The intensity was ramped up with the playoffs looming, as both sides shook off the rust from the international break.
Both were patient in their attack, willing to build phases and stretch the opposition defense, with the only difference in the first half being a missed conversion by Beauden Barrett.
Cruden slotted an early penalty and converted tries to No. 8 Matt vant Leven and inside center Bundee Aki.
Both of the Hurricanes tries, to scrumhalf T.J. Perenara and Barrett, came from patient buildups and while the flyhalf converted Perenara’s try, he was unable to add the extra points from his own.
However, the 22-year-old added a penalty with halftime looming to reduce the deficit to 17-15 at the break.
Barrett missed an early second-half penalty and the match settled into a war of attrition, before Cruden gave his side a five-point cushion with his second penalty. The Chiefs then shut the Hurricanes down in the final quarter.
The Chiefs pulled clear when scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow and replacement prop Ben Tameifuna crashed over to give the home side a 19-point lead with five minutes remaining, before Alapati Leiua grabbed a consolation try for the Hurricanes.
“I felt we were in that game, even though the scoreboard suggests otherwise,” Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith said. “They’re a good side and you know that when you think you’re in it, look at the scoreboard and [you] are 10 points down.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a