Super Rugby: Hurricanes retain streak with win at Force

Julian Savea of the Hurricanes crosses the line to score but the try was later disallowed. Photo / Getty Images

Hurricanes 42
Force 13
This has been some road trip for the Hurricanes.

Following wins against the Lions and the Bulls, Chris Boyd's side made it three from three with a 42-13 victory over the Western Force in Perth today.

After starting the season in South Africa, the stop at Perth looked like a potential banana-skin game for the Hurricanes.

So many Kiwi sides have fallen in to the trap of switching off against the Force on their way home from the Republic but the Hurricanes stressed they had spoken about remaining on task during their preparation.

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Tight defence is fast becoming the hallmark of a Hurricanes performance in 2015 and the Force were smothered throughout the contest as they were unable to break the visitors down.

A four-try bonus point capped a big day out for the Wellington-based franchise who will enjoy a bye next week.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd made a healthy dose of changes to his side for the game with the Force as he aimed to keep the squad fresh with a long season ahead but not all of the switches were planned.

Versatile forward Blade Thomson was a late scratching for the Hurricanes, which gave lock Mark Abbott his third consecutive start of the season.

Abbott marked the contest with his first try in Super Rugby during the opening spell, which followed an earlier effort from Cory Jane as the Hurricanes took a 15-6 lead to the break.

Assistant coach John Plumtree, who has taken over the forwards and defence at the Hurricanes, has his big men firing.

They're playing with fluidity and the skills on show from members of their tight five like Abbott and hooker Dane Coles belies their size.

Coles led the Hurricanes for the first time during today's game as regular skipper Conrad Smith was rested.

Ill-discipline is still a concern for the Hurricanes and it will surely be a focus in the coming weeks for Boyd and his coaching staff.

Barrett's right foot kept the scoreboard ticking over during the second half and when No 8 Victor Vito scored on the hour-mark the result was settled.

Julian Savea was a constant threat to the Force with his dominant running game and he bustled his way to a try of his own late in proceedings as the score climbed.

Importantly for Boyd, he was able to give utility back James Marshall a run at first-five in place of Barrett, who will need to be rested at some point this season due to the requirement for All Blacks to miss two games to keep fresh in World Cup year.

Marshall added a try of his own and converted it during the final act of the fixture.

"I'm just really proud of the boys with the way we turned up; the attitude was right," Coles said after the game. "We've got a lot of belief in our side."

After returning from the bye, the Hurricanes will host the Blues in Palmerston North on March 13.

Hurricanes 42 (Cory Jane, Mark Abbott, Victor Vito, Julian Savea, James Marshall tries; Beauden Barrett 3 pen, 2 con, Marshall 2 con) Western Force 13 (Mitch Scott try; Zack Holmes pen, Luke Burton pen, con) halftime: 15-6