Flanker gets away with sneaky slap

Luke McAlister's 63m penalty kick

WIN Xbox 360 and Rugby Challenge 2

Paul O'Connell kicks Kearney in the head

Goodes' catch and sprint down wing

Michael Brial assaults Frank Bunce in 96

Huge hit by Linda Itunu at USA Sevens

Opeti Fonua smashes Chris Masoe in 2010

Ref Cam makes Top 14 debut

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Classic Encounters - Hurricanes snatch dramatic win from the Blues

The Hurricanes snatched a 26-25 win from the Blues in one of the games of the weekend in Super Rugby, as captain Conrad Smith scored a try with time up, which young flyhalf Beauden Barrett duly converted.

While New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup with their fourth choice number ten on the field, this season they already have a host of contenders for the key position, with a number of players showing great form already. Barrett is one of them, and he was crucial to this win.

His break set up Smith for his second try of the game, giving the them their third win of the season. Former center Ma'a Nonu scored against his old side after another local, Piri Weepu, charged towards the tryline, but the All Black number nine was left shouldering the blame for the loss.

"It's tough. Personally I felt I've let the team down," he said after he'd missed an earlier tackle on Cory Jane, and also kicked away possession late in the match.

"We didn't play to the final whistle and those guys did and you can't take anything away from them. People had written them off and they may not have showed a lot of promise in pre-seasons, but the competition's different. I take my hat off to them."

Below are highlights of what was a great game of rugby, with a fantastic finish. Remember that you can view highlights of all Super Rugby matches in the dedicated Super Rugby Highlights section.

Posted at 5:25 pm | 9 comments

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Viewing 9 comments

Casual Observer March 28, 2012 6:53 pm

The two matches I've watched Munro play (against the Reds last season and this match), he's had mistake-strewn performances. Are there any Blues supporters who thinks he's out of his depth in Super Rugby? Given the "don't argue" by Quade Cooper and his decision to run his way out of the 22 and slipping seems to sum it up for me...?

(And yes, it may be overly harsh to judge him after the two times I've seen him play hence I'm looking for the opinions of others...)

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AK-NZ March 29, 2012 12:32 am

Yea I know what you mean, he often makes mistakes at crucial times which put his team under a lot of pressure. He was described in the paper here yesterday as 'admirable but limited', which is probably a fairly accurate description. When he plays for Auckland he certainly looks capable, but can still look a bit out of his depth. I think his biggest issue is that he often bites off a bit more than he can chew, tries to be more adventurous than perhaps his core skills allow.

Personally, I think he's a handy player but many people do think he's out of his depth when playing Super Rugby. But at provincial level he's generally a great player.

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AK-NZ March 29, 2012 12:34 am

Also, he's usually a very sound kicker, so in that regard he's a pretty valuable player.

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Juggernauter March 29, 2012 10:09 pm

Yep I thought precisely that... maybe he's one of those players that are great in provincial rugby, good but not really good at super rugby level and that probably won't get a call for any test honours or represetnative honours.

These kind of SH players usually travel up north, get a starting position in their teams, play in front of big crowds and experience the great Heineken Cup. Guys like Gasnier, Gibson, Kockott, Hamilton, Gerber, Reihana, Haylett-Petty, Chavangha, Blair, Skeate, Carraro, Tuitupou, and at bigger level Parks, Hartley, Fourie and Sonny Parker come to mind.

Sadly Munro makes waay too many mistakes imo.

Anyway, Supoer Rugby is being awesome this year!


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donkeyballs4000 March 28, 2012 8:56 pm

Cory Jane looks like a prick.

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stroudos March 29, 2012 11:07 am

Donkeyballs, I was about to make exactly the same comment. What a wanker.

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Xenophile March 28, 2012 9:18 pm

I'm still baffled at Weepu's decision to kick possession away with an aimless effort with 80 seconds to go! What was he thinking? There was zero chase, and 7 phases later Smith is in for the try. It's decision making like that which ultimately cost the Blues the game, and thus far their season.

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guest March 30, 2012 11:17 am

Weepu's tackle is horrendous on Cory Jane, it looks like the kind of tackle a 12 year old would make.

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