Wynne Gray: Resilience and a few hits cap 'Canes tour

The Hurricanes have landed a few hits on their tour of South Africa.

A few reverberated from a Bloemfontein nightclub when Jerry Collins and Lome Fa'atau had a disagreement, but the blows the Hurricanes landed yesterday in Cape Town were far more significant.

When Hosea Gear impersonated Jonah Lomu with his rhinoceros-in-ballet-shoes routine for an extraordinary late try past four defenders, it wasted the Stormers and blew away the tensions of the last week.

Not entirely, because there will always be curious references to the undignified dustup, but the win at Newlands overshadowed that affront.

Had the Hurricanes lost their way for a second time on this tour, discussion about the pugilism at the Pizazz nightclub would have been revived.

It was mighty close.

The week before, the Hurricanes had squandered a decent lead against the Cheetahs and yesterday they struggled to bridge the margin against a more confident Stormers side.

Mind you, the Hurricanes gave their opponents plenty of help as tryscoring chances were blighted by Isaia Toeava and Ma'a Nonu while the lineout disintegrated.

But the visitors used their mental resilience to attack for a dramatic late success.

It was a triumph for the leadership of Rodney So'oialo, the skipper who was suspended last week but returned to inspire his troops in Cape Town.

The 26-year-old fortified his place as the All Black No 8 last season, where his ball skills, huge workrate and strong defence suited the team pattern. He was a core member of a fiendishly energetic group of loose forwards.

So'oialo demonstrated all those talents and his inspiring leadership at Newlands as he battled to cure the Hurricanes' ailments.

Victory did not disguise some of the frailties seen in the last two matches but it will have helped the confidence and allowed the side to stay with the breakaway group in this year's competition.

So'oialo has made a strong start in his bid to be the All Black No 8 again this year, or one of the choices if the selectors alternate their options again.

That contest is boiling away nicely.

Two other contenders, Sione Lauaki and Mose Tuiali'i, were in dynamic form when the Chiefs and Crusaders clashed in the latest Super 14 round .

Lauaki made a number of damaging runs and defended vigorously for the entire match.

He has drifted in games during his career but his relentless contribution in the last two matches bodes well.

The response from Tuiali'i was equally impressive.

His clearance from the base of the scrum, improved defence and athletic ability to break the line created all sorts of havoc.

Another heady performer at No 8 is Craig Newby for the Highlanders, where he directs, organises and plays with consistent intuition.

Blues loosie Angus Macdonald has toured with the All Blacks but has struggled with a hamstring this season and team-mate Nick Williams and Steven Bates are others who are playing No 8.

While the top contenders are showing out, there is not the same production yet from all those halfbacks who have been with the All Blacks.

Piri Weepu is firing, Jimmy Cowan and Kevin Senio are rising but Byron Kelleher has not made enough impact for someone of his experience.

His game was ragged overseas and he may have battled injury in the last two matches.

He has not been as sharp or as confrontational as he can be.

He has a week off with the Chiefs this round but needs to pick up his tempo for the resumption against George Gregan and his Brumbies in Canberra.