The Hurricanes were qualified for the Super Rugby semi-finals for the 2018 season. The Wellington-based franchise had to face a trip to Christchurch to play the Crusaders. The statistics were showing that the Crusaders had never lost a home play-offs game ever.
It meant the Hurricanes had to play at their best and close to perfection if they wanted to go to the Final. Following the win in the Quarter-Finals, the Hurricanes worked on their gameplan. Their forwards pack had to step up with the Crusaders dominating that area.
I- Team informations : Full Strength Team
For the Super Rugby semi-final, the Hurricanes were relying on an almost full strength team. A few key players had come back the weekend before. The only doubt was flanker Ardie Savea who was still trying to shake off an ankle injury that he picked up in June.
Otherwise, the news were positive with centre Wes Goosen presenting no ill effects from the concussion two weeks ago. Also, skipper Brad Shields overcome a rib cartilage injury but Finlay Christie was unavailable. He had not recover from a concussion the last time.
II- The Players : Finding The Good Gameplan
The main key in that play-offs game was going to be the gameplan that the Hurricanes were going to use. The Hurricanes often opted for kicking the ball that season. They had to make sure that this kicking game was accurate with the chasers staying well involved.
Besides, their attacking game had to be on song with the last few games showing some lack of fluidity. The Hurricanes always had a talented backline and their backs had to deliver. Being able to work quickly and scoring tries from quick phases would be good.
III- The Hurricanes line-up : Ardie Savea not fit enough
(15-1) Nehe Milner-Skudder – Ben Lam – Jordie Barrett – Ngani Laumape – Julian Savea – Beauden Barrett – TJ Perenara – Blade Thompson – Gareth Evans – Brad Shields – Michael Fatialofa – Sam Lousi – Jefferey To’omanga-Allen – Ricky Riccitelli – Toby Smith*
(16-23) James O’Reilly – Fraser Armstrong – Ben May – Vaea Fifita – Reed Prinsep – Jamie Booth – Ihaia West – Wes Goosen
* Toby Smith was celebrating his 100th Super Rugby game but not his 100th Super Rugby for the Hurricanes. He played previously for the Melbourne Rebels in the competition. He is from Australia and he will have to come back to Australia if he wants to play Test Rugby.
IV- Game Summary : The Challenge Was Too Tough
In Christchurch, the first Super Rugby semi-final was referred by the south-african official Jaco Peyper. The weather forecast was pretty good though there was a bit of wind. The Crusaders kicked off in the first-half and the Hurricanes got the rugby ball.
Scrum-half TJ Perenara managed to get a decent clearance with the Crusaders starting to build the first phases of play. They were keeping the ball although the Hurricanes got a few turnovers at the beginning. The Crusaders made handling mistakes in the opening.
The Hurricanes were staying strong and particularly at scrum time with Toby Smith and Jefferey To’omanga-Allen not feeling a big pressure. Number 8 Blade Thompson ran with the ball but he was met by the Crusaders forwards like Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read.
Having the ball, the Hurricanes backline tried to work some magic with winger Ben Lam coming in the midfield. Centre Ngani Laumape tried a chip-kick but it did not work and the Crusaders turned the ball over. It was the start of a counter-attack with David Havili.
After some good carries from props Joe Moody and Owen Franks, the ball was spread wide and first-five eighth Richie Mo’unga scored the try. He converted it and the Hurricanes had to react on the following re-start when Richie Mo’unga knocked it on.
On the resulting scrum, the Hurricanes trusted their attacking plan. There was a combination with Beauden Barrett linking up with Nehe Milner-Skudder. The ball was released to Julian Savea who was on his right wing and he dived to put the ball down.
Jaco Peyper called the TMO (Television Match Official) to know if Julian Savea was in touch when he grounded the ball. There was no clear evidence that the winger was in touch so the try was awarded. Beauden Barrett converted that try from the touchlines.
Following that good try, the Hurricanes had some possession but they could not convert it into points. The Crusaders got the ball back and relied on their forwards pack to come back on the Hurricanes lines. The ball was spread wide and so George Bridge got the try.
The Hurricanes were feeling the pressure and the defence started to let the Crusaders gain the metres as Seta Tamanivalu carried powerfully. Just before Half-Time, the Crusaders got two more penalties to get a decent advantage with just one minute to go.
The Hurricanes had one last opportunity with a scrum but the ball was lost when Julian Savea tried to release it while he was tackled. It was the Half-Time and the Crusaders had a good advantage. The Hurricanes needed a big reaction in the second-half (HT : 18-7).
The second-half was underway when Beauden Barrett opted for a very long kick-off. The Hurricanes were trying their kicking game to put their opponents under pressure. The ball was in Nehe Milner-Skudder’s hands and he went for that risky kicking game option.
His kick was not good at all as he kicked the ball from the side of his boot. Winger George Bridge was accurate and he took the ball in the air. It was another counter-attacking opportunity for the Crusaders as centre Jack Goodhue was running well in the midfield.
Playing very quickly with Bryn Hall as a distributor, the Hurricanes could not scramble in defence and it was another try to the home side. This time, it was Jack Goodhue who ran another threatening line. The Hurricanes had no answers to that Crusaders power.
From the resulting kick-off, the Hurricanes just had to score very quickly but the Crusaders were just too strong in defence. TJ Perenara and Ben Lam tried the grubber kicks to catch the Crusaders’ defence by surprise but it just was not well executed at all.
In the midfield, Ngani Laumape kicked the ball too much as well and he could not carry the ball like he is used to. Jordie Barrett did not have the same impact as well as Chris Boyd rang the changes early. The bench was used after 10 minutes in the second-half.
The Hurricanes could not find the key to score the tries and the Crusaders waited patiently. They turned the ball over a few times before working in the midfield with Ryan Crotty. The Hurricanes only won one penalty at the breakdown, which was few.
Playing with all the freedom, Richie Mo’unga spotted the space on the right wing. He made the cross-field kick which was gathered by Braydon Ennor. It was not good enough for the Hurricanes who did not defend well in that phase and conceding the fourth try.
There was some fightback from the Hurricanes in the last minutes though as Beauden Barrett touched the ball many times. He got a gap in the midfield and beat a few defenders. The playmaker tried to reach the line and Jaco Peyper called for the TMO.
He concluded that the ball was grounded short of the line so there was a 5-metre scrum for the Hurricanes. It was not enough with Ngani Laumape trying to offload to Ihaia West who knocked the ball on. The Crusaders had the ball one more time in that game.
With the end of the game coming, the Hurricanes attacked again and there was a consolation try for Ben Lam, his 16th try of 2018. It was a new record. The conversion was taken by Skipper Brad Shields, leaving the franchise. End of the season (FT : 30-12).
V- The Barrett Review : Average Game
Kicks : 1/1 – Beauden Barrett had the goalkicking duties going into this game. He only had one kick during the contest but it was not the easiest. It was from the right touchlines after Julian Savea’s try and he nailed it. He did not take the last conversion. Good display.
General Play : It was a mixed outing from the first-five eighth. He knocked the ball on twice but made a good cross-field kick. His kicking game could have been better but Beauden Barrett defended well. He played better in the second-half, almost scoring a try.
Conclusion : Obviously, it was not the way that Beauden Barrett wanted to end his season in Super Rugby. According to Sean Fitzpatrick, he remains the first number 10 in New Zealand. It may be true but there is going to be competition in the next few months.
Max.
Rugby, Only Rugby ! 