Bulls show Hurricanes how to win games

I didn't have to make as many tackles as I thought I would. I'm proud of the boys ... we can take lots of positives out of this match when we head away from home for three weeks next week.Chris Eaton, Hurricanes halfback Hawke's Bay's Hurricanes rugby first-five Daniel Kirkpatrick had disappointment written all over his face after Saturday night's Super Rugby loss at Napier's McLean Park.
"I had an off night. But at last night's goalkicking session everything was sweet," said Kirkpatrick as he reflected on his two successes from six attempts at goal.
"The tactical kicking was fine. We were getting into the right areas of the park but those missed penalty kicks were costly.
"It was a weird feeling because everywhere else we were matching them. But they kept hitting their penalties."
In sharp contrast, his Bulls counterpart, Morne Steyn, could do little wrong. He succeeded with four of his six attempts at goal and added two dropped goals for a personal haul of 21 points in a man-of-the-match performance.
Like Kirkpatrick, Hurricanes and Magpies halfback Chris Eaton said the match was nowhere near as hard as he expected.
"I didn't have to make as many tackles as I thought I would. I'm proud of the boys ... we can take lots of positives out of this match when we head away from home for three weeks next week," said Eaton referring to the Canes away assignments against the Brumbies, Cheetahs and Sharks.
Hurricanes captain and hooker Andrew Hore echoed Eaton's summation.
"If you had seen the last 40 minutes last week, you wouldn't think we were the same team," said Hore referring to the conceding of 22 second half points in a 42-25 loss to the Rebels in Melbourne.
"Tonight's effort was pleasing. But, at the same time, it was a bit frustrating we didn't get a competition point. I'm happy but we've still got a long way to go."
Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett said he couldn't fault his side's commitment, character, line speed on defence, counter rucking, hard running and strong scrummaging.
"At the same time there were areas which let us down. We struggled under the high ball."
The Canes certainly did. Steyn and Springboks halfback Fourie du Preez are masters of aerial bombardment expeditions and they proved why yet again.
The Bulls only try, scored by winger Francois Hougaard in the 73rd minute, came after the Canes failed to take a Steyn high kick in the middle of the field.
"Those high up and unders were pinpoint. That's a skill we need to develop," said Hammett.
"The Bulls are a good side and tonight we weren't far off them."
Bulls captain Victor Matfield described the victory in front of 10,750 spectators as his side's best performance of the season.
"We're not quite there yet but we were more clinical than in other games. We weren't flashy but we put them under pressure for 80 minutes and that's not easy against a side with the likes of Nonu and Smith," he said.
"We knew they would come out firing. It was a game between two desperate teams and luckily we came out with the win."
Bulls head coach Frans Ludeke said the win was a "nice start" to a four-week tour that will also see the Bulls play the Crusaders, Reds and Force.
The match was the first Super Rugby game in Napier since 2003. If the post-match comments from both camps are an indication it shouldn't be another eight years before the Bulls and Hurricanes return to Napier.
"It's a fantastic place," said Hammett.
"If we could, we would come every week to Napier. We've never lost here ... it's a great venue," said Matfield.