Rugby: Hurricanes storm to a big win

By CHRIS RATTUE

The Hurricanes opened the Super 12 season with a 40-23 win over the Sharks with their outside backs inspiring the five tries-to-three triumph.

In front of a 35,000 capacity crowd at the new WestpacTrust Stadium, the Hurricanes overcame a two-point halftime deficit to take maximum points by scoring at least four tries.

The Sharks led 17-15 at halftime but were quickly put away in the second half when All Blacks Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu, making his Super 12 debut for the Hurricanes, each scored their second try.

The 47th minute touchdown from Lomu, who left the field with a thigh injury 10 minutes later, gave the Hurricanes the all-important bonus point.

The win will have strengthened Hurricanes' supporters belief that they might now have a side capable of going all the way in the Super 12.

Under new coaches Graham Mourie and Bryan Williams they have built a core of players based in the region, after their side was filled by the draft last year.

They showed some defensive weaknesses and Sharks halfback Chad Alcock took advantage of holes around the fringes.

But the outside backs, Cullen, Lomu, Tana Umaga and Alama Ieremia were dangerous and signalled that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

The new tackle-ball rule also appeared to win the day, with less confusion and penalties at the breakdowns and the game flowed well under Australian referee Peter Marshall.

The Hurricanes maybe saved their best until last, when a brilliant overhead pass from Umaga sent Daryl Lilley in for the fifth try.

The Sharks led 17-15 at halftime, with a well-worked try to prop Ollie le Roux from a lineout move right on the break giving them the lead for the first time.

The Hurricanes were on the board first when Lomu chipped and chased for the first try of the 2000 Super 12 in the 16th minute.

Halfback Alcock scored the Sharks first try, a solo effort which began when he ran past poor defence from blindside flanker Campbell Feather.

The Hurricanes came back with a Cullen try, set up by a good pass in the tackle from Gordon Falcon and helped when centre Trevor Halstead slipped.

Hurricanes captain Norm Hewitt was then sinbinned by referee Marshall, on a report from touch judge Andrew Cole, for stomping.

And it was while Hewitt was off the field that number eight A J Venter powered into the corner for the Sharks' second try after midfield back Pieter Muller had risen above Lomu to collect a bomb.