The Hurricanes played the Lions at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Chiefs won 33-18. Another bonus point given.
Kick off: 08h35 (RSA time).
| Hurricanes | Lions | |
| Tries | Paterson (14th min), Weepu (40th min), Hore (51st min), Smith (68th min) | Minnie (24th min), Clever (43rd min) |
| Pens | Ripia (4th min, 9th min, 33rd min) | Rose (50th min, 54th min) |
| Conv | Ripia (40th min, 52nd min) | Rose (24th min) |
| DGs | 0 – | 0 – |
Hurricanes’ recent form at home: (W, W, W, W, L, W, W, L, W, W)
· The Hurricanes conceded only two defeats at the hands of the Vodacom Bulls (14-19) and the HSBC Waratahs (22-26) in Wellington last year.
· In 2008, the hosts suffered a 13-20 defeat against the Crusaders and held the Sharks to a 13-13 draw at the Westpac Stadium.
Auto & General Lions recent form on the road: (L, W, L, L, L, L, L, L, L, L)
· The Johannesburg franchise has won one (31-20 victory over the Reds) out of their last 10 away games.
· The Auto & General Lions has never defeated the Hurricanes in Wellington in the history of Super Rugby.
Teams
Hurricanes:
John Schwalger, Andrew Hore (c), Neemia Tialata, Bryn Evans, Jason Eaton, Michael Paterson, Karl Lowe, Rodney So’oialo, Piri Weepu, Willie Ripia, David Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Cory Jane Reserves: Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison, Nick Crosswell, Scott Waldrom, Tyson Keats, Aaron Cruden, Andre Taylor
Lions:
Heinke van der Merwe, Hannes Franklin, Ross Geldenhuys, Franco van der Merwe, George Earl, Cobus Grobbelaar (c), Derick Minnie, Todd Clever, JP Joubert, Carlos Spencer, Wandile Mjekevu, Doppies la Grange, Deon van Rensburg, Tonderai Chavhanga, Earl Rose. Reserves: Charles Emslie, Kevin Buys, Jacques Lombaard, Robert Kruger, Jacques Coetzee, Walter Venter, Michael Killian.
Referee: Paul Marks
Assistant Referres : Chris Pollock (NZL), Mathew Stanish (NZL)
TMO : Mike Fraser (NZL)
Nathan Pearce of Australia has had to withdraw from his appointment to referee the match at Westpac Stadium between the Hurricanes and the Lions on Saturday evening.
Pearce damaged a hamstring a while back.
His place is taken by Paul Marks, who, like Pearce, is on the reserve panel of Super 14 referees.
Up till now Pearce has refereed four Super Rugby matches, while Marks has refereed 20.
Pearce is the second withdrawal for this weekend, following Stuart Dickinson who withdrew from the match in Bloemfontein between the Cheetahs and the Highlanders because of an injured calf muscle.
-10 The Hurricanes will be looking to cement their place in the top two and like last week, a win can put them at the top of the standings till the Bulls play later today!
-15 Will the Lions bother to tackle this week or will be see another cricket score?
C’MON Lions!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggg, who am I kidding…
2 Some early competition at the breakdown and the Hurricanes win a couple of penalties as the Lions struggle to settle down.
0 Carlos Spencer gets the game underway!
4 Willie Ripia is having a shot at goal from just inside the Lions’ half. Ripia slots the penalty and the Hurricanes lead 3-0.
6 Free kick to the Hurricanes at a scrum for early engagement by the Lions. The Hurricanes, predictable the Canes take another scrum
8 Some ordinary kicking bu both sides and then the Lions are penalised for an incorrect entry at the tackle. The Hurricanes have a line-out on the Lions 22.
6-0
9 Penalty to the Hurricanes and the count is mounting against the Lions. Willie Ripia is having a shot at goal from 25m out, right in front. The penalty is good amd the Hurricanes lead 6-0.
11 Carlos Spencer tries to counter from his own 22, but Conrad Smith knocks on as he goes for the intercept. Scrum to the Lions.
14 Some ordinary kicking by both sides again. The Hurricanes launch a strong raid and there is some brilliant interplay between forwards and backs. Michael Paterson goes over for the first TRY – a move that startyed with Paterson stealibng a Lions line-out. The conversion is not good, but the Hurricanes lead 11-0
17 Another penalty to the Lions from the restart. A quick tap-and-go and quick hands to the right, but a wild pass by Rose goes into touch.
20 Free kick to the Hurricanes at the scrum again.
19 The Lions now launch another strong raid and the ball goes through the hands – lots of movement, mostly latteral though. It comes to an end with a knock-on by Cobus Grobbelaar inside the Hurricanes 22.
22 Knock-on by the Lions, who can’t control from a line-out. Scrum to the Hurricanes just inside the Lions half. The Hurricanes now guilty of latteral play and their attack also ends with a knock-on. The game still can’t get going. Spencer steps his way through and La Grange also breaks a tackle.
Try Lions, after a Lineout near the line
23 Penalty against Nonu for not releasing in the tackle. The Lions opt for a line-out close to the Hurricanes line.
24 The Lions launch a strong drive and they are over for their first TRY – the score going to blindside flank Derick Minnie. Rose adds the conversion and the gaps narrows to 7-11
26 Penalty to the Lions from the restart for pulling a player back and Spencer finds touch near halfway. Nonu again penalised and Rose hooks the penalty wide again – this time from virtually in front of the uprights. That is a SHOCKER!
28 Knock-on by Wandile Mjekevu from the restart and the Hurricanes have an attacking scrum. Penalty to the Lions at the scrum this time – is the referee guessing?
30 Spencer doesn’t find touch – another SHOCKING kick by a Lions player. Penalty to the Hurricanes at the tackle – the pea is being blown out of the referee’s whistle. The Hurricanes return the favour – a SHOCKING kick by Willie Ripia and the Lions can clear their lines.
32 Both teams are guiltty of some very ordinary kicking and that is paying them a compliment. It is a game of plenty movement, but nothing constructive. Another penalty against the Lions.
14-7
33 Jason Eaton leaves the field injured and this could be a big blow to the Hurricanes. Ripia slots another penalty and the Hurricanes lead 14-7
34 The Lions conceded possession from the restart with some ordinary handling – Rose and Todd Clever both failing to hold onto the ball.
36 The Lions win a scrum turnover and some Spencer magic puts the Lions into a strong position, but another very poor pass by Rose hands the ball back to the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes and they now have a line-out on halfway. The Luions slip off the tackles at an alarming rate and Cory Jane makes plenty of metres, before a poor pass ends the move.
38 Knock-on by the Hurricanes as the high error rate of the game continues. Spencer just manages to clear his lines. The Hurricanes launch a strong raid and are quickly into the Lions 22.
39 Penalty to the Hurricanes and they opt for a scrum five metres out.
40 Piri Weepy snipes around the scrum and scores his team’s second TRY. Ripia adds the conversion and the Hurricanes lead 21-7 as the teams head into the half-time break.
GOOOOOOOOO LIONNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Just turned on the tv just before the break to see Canes get that try. Pity right on halftime there.
42 Two quick penalties early in the half to get the Lions going – for shoving the supporting player from under the jumper and at the tackle. The Lions runmble it up with their forwards.
41 Willie Ripia gets the second half underway.
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