Rugby: New-generation Canes play like a team

The Hurricanes' Julian Savea pushes ahead. Photo / Getty Images

Western Force 19
Hurricanes 46

On this evidence, Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett might have lost key personnel - but is building a side that plays like a team.

The Canes will meet sterner opposition than this and their tight five will be asked even harder questions but the overwhelming impression that came out of this win was the Hurricanes' cohesion. The Force scrum gave them gyp all night but the Hurricanes' lineout stood firm, their work at the breakdown was committed and their accuracy was such that, when the counter-attacking chance was on, the Canes took it.

The loss of senior statesmen like Piri Weepu, Ma'a Nonu and Andrew Hore was supposed to pull the sugar out of the Canes but there was little sign of that. Their support play was admirable, their passes stuck and their backline had it all over the Force who are competitive from numbers 1-8 but who are less threatening elsewhere.

Depth, supposedly a weakness for the Hurricanes, also looked good - with replacements for stand-out halfback TJ Perenara and first five-eighths Beauden Barrett (Chris Eaton and Daniel Kirkpatrick respectively) and muscular midfield back Charlie Ngatai all playing well. So did replacement lock James Broadhurst and hard-hitting forward Motu Matu'u.

It may even be that Hammett is succeeding in rejuvenating former All Black lock Jason Eaton who galloped through for one of the final tries after some slick work at the ruck and rapid passing. Judgment will passed better when the Hurricanes have tougher assignments but the signs are good.

It looked folly to sub off Barrett - who was again all class in his kicking and general play - and an admittedly cramp-affected Perenara. But Hammett timed it perfectly, the fresh men provoking the late flurry of try-scoring.

The busy little halfback Perenara is a fine runner and support player and scored a hat-trick of tries in his starting debut. The word has been out about this guy since he made his Wellington provincial debut as a schoolboy and his ability to pass and back up and pop up in the right places at the right time - as when he stormed onto a clever Conrad Smith kick-ahead and was rewarded by getting his foot to the ball and then an accommodating bounce.

Victor Vito was a potent source of lineout ball and hooker Dane Coles looks close to his highly mobile best - and the team of youngsters Hammett is melding with a few seasoned veterans seems to be knitting together better than anyone expected.

The match probably hinged on two key moments - Smith's canny conning of the referee, Jaco Pepper, in defence and Andre Taylor's pacy, individual try in the first half.

Force hooker Nathan Charles looked set to score a brilliant counter-attacking try as they swept 70m downfield. Charles weaved behind a team-mate who was probably too far away to have any direct influence but Smith tackled him, loudly claimed obstruction - and Pepper blew the whistle. It would have been a spanking try but Smith's tackle ruined the Force's momentum.

The scores were locked at 10-10 after the Force dragged themselves back into the match but Taylor's try saw the Canes head out to a 22-10 halftime lead. Force fullback Cameron Shepherd chip-kicked only to see Taylor gather, elude Shepherd and three others, outpacing winger Nick Cummins to score and create a lead the Canes never relinquished.

Western Force 19 (M. Hodgson try; J. Stannard 4 pens, con), Hurricanes 46 (TJ Perenara 3, A. Taylor, J. Eaton, C. Ngatai tries; B. Barrett pen, 3 cons; D. Kirkpatrick pen, 2 cons). Halftime: 22-10.