RUGBY Conrad Smith tries to break the Stormers’ line
NEWS & SPORT
That’s “ probably the most boring game of football that I’ve seen in a long time in Super rugby
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Force coach John Mitchell claims pedantic referees are ruining the sport as a spectacle
THE PLAYER
Ma’a Nonu HURRICANES The Hurricanes enjoyed plenty of possession against the Stormers, but it was their finishing that got them home. And no player was more dangerous than All Blacks utility Ma’a Nonu, who repeatedly broke the line and created space for the other backs, while also crossing twice himself.
THE TABLE Team P Chiefs 9 Sharks 10 Bulls 9 Hurricanes 9 Blues 9 Waratahs 10 Brumbies 9 Crusaders* 9 Force* 9 Highlanders 9 Lions 9 Stormers 9 Reds 9 Cheetahs 9
W 6 7 6 6 5 6 6 5 4 4 3 2 2 1
L 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 4 5 6 7 7 8
BP PTS 7 31 3 31 5 29 5 29 8 28 4 28 3 27 4 26 5 23 6 22 7 19 7 15 5 13 3 7
* Have drawn a match
ON THE BOX SATURDAY 6.30am Sky Sports Xtra BLUES V REDS
SATURDAY 8.30am Sky Sports Xtra Getty Images
HURRICANES V BRUMBIES
OTHER ROUND 11 GAMES Hurricanes v Stormers, Force v Lions, Cheetahs v Crusaders, Bulls v Chiefs
Canes blow through Hurricanes 34
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M Nonu 2 T Ellison J Thrush tries W Ripia 4 cons 2 pens
11 Stormers D Des Fountain try P Grant 2 pens
The Hurricanes picked up a valuable bonus point as they blew away the Stormers for a convincing victory, which not only kept them in the top four, but also bolstered their hopes of securing a home semi-final. For the Stormers, a fourth consecutive loss effectively killed off their flickering play-off ambitions with four games remaining. Possession was shared in the match but the Reds 20
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Q Cooper S Higginbotham W Genia tries B Barnes con pen
31 Lions H Mentz 3 E Joubert tries A Pretorius 4 cons pen
The struggling Reds sunk to their lowest ebb, crashing to an embarrassing loss to the Lions at Suncorp Stadium. The Reds failed to exploit the two-man advantage they enjoyed for nine minutes in the second-half, and consequently suffered their fourth consecutive loss. The Lions only had a third of possession, but taught the hosts a lesson in finishing as they took their chances, scoring four tries to three. Cheetahs 10 J Nokwe try J Potgieter con pen
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28 Chiefs M Delany H Elliott S Lilo tries M Delany con S Donald con 3 pens
After trailing 7-6 at halftime, the Chiefs dominated the second half to continue their title charge with a sixth straight win, ahead of a blockbuster clash with the Bulls this weekend. The Chiefs made hard work of the first match of their South African tour, but the scoreline accurately reflected a contest where they dominated possession and territory on the high veldt.
Hurricanes used it better, as they recovered from conceding the first try to score two of their own in each half. The loose trio of Rodney So’oialo, Scott Waldrom and Victor Vito set the platform with their domination of the breakdown, delivering a constant supply of ball to playmakers Ma’a Nonu, David Smith and Cory Jane. Nonu did the damage with two tries, and flyhalf Willie Ripia kept a perfect kicking record for the Hurricanes. Waratahs 14
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W Caldwell try D Halangahu 3 pens
15 Force C Shepherd S Staniforth tries M Giteau con pen
The Force won their third Aussie derby for the season, and kept their slim play-off hopes alive, while sending the Tahs into a nosedive. Down 9-3 at half-time, the Perth-based side created better opportunities and were unlucky to be denied twice by match officials. But they eventually broke the shackles, crossing twice through Cameron Shepherd and Scott Staniforth to pinch the win by a point. Sharks 10 S Sykes try R Kockott con pen
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13 Crusaders R McCaw try S Brett con pen A Ellis drop goal
Crusaders captain Richie McCaw celebrated his return from injury with a magnificent man-ofthe-match performance in a gritty win over the Sharks in Durban. Sidelined for six weeks with a medial ligament strain, McCaw was in the blood bin after three minutes to have a forehead wound examined and played the second half heavily bandaged, but put his body on the line and scored the Crusaders’ only try.
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19/4/09 09:03:16