All Blacks forwards Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins and Jason Eaton each scored tries as the Wellington Hurricanes beat South Africa’s Cheetahs 37-15 in a Super 14 rugby match on Friday.
Their international teammate, halfback-turned-flyhalf Piri Weepu, kicked seven goals from seven attempts as the Hurricanes, coming off a bye, kept their play-off hopes alive with a bonus point from their fifth win in 10 games.
The Hurricanes rushed to a 24-3 first-half lead but the Cheetahs fought back with tries to Gavin Passens and captain Juan Smith.
Smith’s try came after his opposite number, Wellington captain Rodney So’oialo, was sent to the sin bin.
Passens’ was a superb try and a rarity from a set piece. A brilliant combination among the Cheetahs’ backs from a scrum near halfway — a long pass from Willem de Waal and strong running from Ronnie Cook and Philip Burger — created space for the winger who dashed away to score near the left-hand corner.
Smith’s try was disputed and followed a series of questionable calls from Australian referee Paul Marks. He allowed the Cheetahs to maintain the ball through a succession of rolling mauls, though the mauls frequently became stationary, requiring the attacking side to play the ball.
Marks twice penalised the Hurricanes for bringing down the mauls and sin-binned So’oialo on the second occasion, although it appeared the mauls collapsed under their own weight.
Smiths’ try, in the 55th minute, provided the Cheetahs with their last points of the match, though they twice came close to scoring long-range tries. Burger lost the ball inches from the line after an attack which ranged from goal line to goal line and Smith lost control of the ball in a gallant solo bid for a try.
The Hurricanes were finally able to snatch a four-try bonus point when winger Hosea Gear ran more than 90m, dodging defenders, to score on the final hooter.
”We wanted a win and the bonus point was, well, a bonus,” So’oialo said. ”We scored four tries and the boys showed that they were willing to run the ball but, having said that, we have to be more accurate. Hopefully, that will come with confidence.”
Masoe scored the Hurricanes’ first try, breaching the Cheetahs’ midfield from an attacking lineout and touching down under the posts.
Collins also scored under the crossbar, running off a midfield break by Ma’a Nonu, whose game was otherwise marred by poor handling.
Eaton intercepted a pass 50m from the goal line and, showing exceptional speed for a lock, outpaced the cover defence.
The Cheetahs dominated the second half and finished with a 70% to 30% territorial advantage but found it hard to score. The Hurricanes were able to administer the coup de grace when Gear scored, and Weepu converted, in the final minute. – Sapa-AP