The Wellington-based Hurricanes ensured this season would be their best-ever in Super Rugby so far when they beat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 22-18 yesterday to likely clinch first place in the New Zealand conference.
The win was the Hurricanes’ 11th in 12 matches this season, topping the franchise record of 10 wins in a season. It took them 14 points clear of the Chiefs in New Zealand and on the overall championships table.
In Sydney, flyhalf Bernard Foley capped off a productive night with a clinching try in the final minute to give defending champions the New South Wales Waratahs a 33-18 win over the Durban, South Africa-based Sharks.
Foley’s 17th Super try from a Sharks turnover was in addition to his 18 points from four penalties and three conversions.
Waratahs center Adam Ashley-Cooper opened the scoring after just 52 seconds following a set move from a lineout. An inside ball from Foley had Michael Hooper in open space and the flanker raced 30m before putting Ashley-Cooper over.
The win moved the Waratahs into first place in the Australian conference, although the ACT Brumbies could retake the lead if they were to win over the Lions in Johannesburg later last night.
Center Ma’a Nonu scored a try in each half for the Hurricanes, the second of which was his 50th in Super Rugby — a record for an active player. His double also marked his milestone 50th appearance in midfield in combination with his All Blacks teammate Conrad Smith.
Nonu’s first try, in the ninth minute, gave the Hurricanes an early 7-0 lead and they were ahead 10-6 approaching halftime until a converted try to Charlie Ngatai put the Chiefs 13-10 in front at the interval.
The Chiefs entered the match depleted by injuries and lost two locks to injuries and a player to the sin-bin during the second half. Despite those disadvantages, they hit back with a 74th-minute try by Sam Cane, which cut the lead to four points and clinched a consolation bonus point.
They then seemed to have stolen the match with a try to Augustine Pulu two minutes from fulltime, but the video referee determined there had been a knock-on in the scoring movement.
“It was probably the first time we’ve been put under that sort of pressure in the first 40 minutes and it took us a little while to react,” Hurricanes stand-in captain Jeremy Thrush said. “That was a good test for us to see what it feels like to be in the playoffs. The Chiefs are a never-say-die team and that’s why they’ve won two championships.”
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