Nonu stars in Hurricanes Victory
Ma’a Nonu scored two tries as the Hurricanes earned a dramatic 33-27 bonus point win over the Chiefs in Wellington on Saturday night to remain in contention for the Rebel Sport Super 14 playoffs.
Tighthead prop Neemia Tialata burrowed over in the corner near the player’s tunnel with the last act of the game to score the Hurricanes’ fourth try to lift them to 32 competition points and within striking distance of the semi-finals with two round-robin matches remaining.
The Hurricanes return to Westpac Stadium to play the Reds in next week’s penultimate round and final match of the season at home.
However the thrilling last-gasp victory wasn’t assured until late in the contest when second five-eighth Nonu accepted a short pass from left wing Hosea Gear and surged to the tryline in the 75th minute and replacement halfback Piri Weepu converted, to put the Hurricanes in the lead for the first time since early in the match.
Then, in a final twist, Chiefs first five-eighth Callum Bruce had a chance to snatch victory for his side, but pulled his angled 35-metre penalty wide and the Hurricanes breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Sensing an opportunity to score again, the Hurricanes rumbled up into the Chiefs 22 and carried their attack to within metres of the chalk and Tialata duly finished the match in style.
Earlier, the Chiefs had capitalised on Hurricanes mistakes and scored four tries in the first half to lead 24-8 after the opening half hour of play, before Nonu’s first try started a game-long comeback.
Hurricanes first five-eighth Aaron Cruden had opened the scoring with a penalty in the fifth minute, a break up the left hand touchline by centre Conrad Smith.
From the re-start, Cruden dropped a pass from halfback Tyson Keats and Chiefs second five-eighth Jackson Willison ran through to score a converted try to put the visitors ahead 7-3.
Cruden was on hand soon after to deliver the final pass to fullback Cory Jane who shot over to score the Hurricanes’ opening try in reply, following some excellent lead-up work inside Chiefs territory and also involving some dangerous running by Nonu.
Cruden was unable to convert Jane’s try from a wide angle, but the Hurricanes now held a one-point lead.
Chiefs loosehead prop Arizona Taumalolo burrowed over near the corner and was awarded the visitors’ second try by the TMO to see them retake the lead 12-8.
A turnover in midfield led to the Chiefs scoring their third try through fullback Tim Nanai-Williams, who slipped a tackle, and danced around the Hurricanes’ last line of defence to score. Bruce’s conversion from a handy position hit the uprights but the Chiefs now led 17-8.
Chiefs blindside Liam Messam accepted a short pass from Hurricanes No. 8 Rodney So’oialo off the back of a defensive scrum that was intended for halfback Tyson Keats and sprinted away to score their fourth try. Bruce kicked the sideline conversion and the Chiefs now held sway at 24-8 after 30 minutes.
Needing a spark, Nonu provided it for the Hurricanes, shooting through the clutches of three defenders from close range to score a well-worked try, following a quickly taken tap penalty on the other side of the field by halfback Keats.
Cruden added the extras to close the deficit to 24-15 heading towards halftime.
Two minutes out from the interval, fullback Jane nearly ran on to a Nonu stab kick into the in-goal to score, instead forcing a 5-metre scrum and almost another try.
The Hurricanes immediately swung on to attack inside the attacking zone early in the second half and were rewarded with a penalty to Cruden to bring them back to within a converted try.
Bruce kicked his opening penalty of the evening to extend the Chiefs’ lead to nine points after a tense period that saw play see-saw from one end to the other.
Replacement Hurricanes halfback Piri Weepu was then successful with the second of two penalty opportunities to close the gap back up again, also resulting with the sinbinning of Chiefs replacement flanker Luke Braid for repeated team infringements at the tackle.
From the re-start, left wing Hosea Gear had the crowd on its feet with a scything breakout run up the flanks after the Hurricanes had originally juggled possession.
The Chiefs held firm with 14 men, but five minutes from fulltime Gear broke out up the touchline again and handed possession inside to Nonu in the clear with 35 metres to run.
Nonu put his foot down and out sprinted the defence for his 40th try and 200th Super Rugby point.
Scores:
Hurricanes 33 Ma’a Nonu 2, Cory Jane, Neemia Tialata tries; Aaron Cruden 2 pen, con, Piri Weepu pen, con.
Chiefs 27 Jackson Willison, Sona Taumalolo, Tim Nanai-Williams, Liam Messam tries; Callum Bruce pen, 2 con.
Halftime: 15-24.
Crowd: 14,347
[Info from Hurricanes.co.nz]
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