The Hurricanes beat a spirited Stormers 41-22 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington thanks to another virtuoso performance from the Barrett brothers and claim a bonus-point win.
The Barrett brothers collected three of the Canes’ seven tries as they defeated the South African’s without getting out of third gear.
The Stormers fought back from 14 and 12 points to 22-all after Jordie Barrett’s first half double and tries from Corey Jane and Julian Savea. But, they succumbed to their host’s power and panache in the second half.
SP Marais’ boot kept the visitors in touching distance but when the magic was needed, up stepped Beauden Barrett, to fend off the Stormers recovery.
The All Black’s superb performance was the difference despite brother Jordie and Ngani Laumape getting a brace apiece.
Robert du Preez kicked an early penalty to put the Stormers on the board but three tries inside 24 minutes from Jane, Jordie Barrett and Savea, gave the visitors a mountain to climb.
Jane’s try came from a Beauden Barrett cross-kick – his signature trademark – before brother Jordie pulled off a miracle score after ripping the ball from Nizaam Carr inside the No 8’s in-goal area.
Ramone Samuels’ try soon after Savea collected Jordie Barrett’s back-flick from near the touchline, brought the scores to 17-10; the Cape team’s powerful maul setting up the score.
Du Preez left the field with a shoulder injury but, the Stormers, though fullback Marais’ accurate kicking, found a way to level the scores at 22-all after 52 minutes.
The parity did not last as the home team pulled away. Luamape’s double, Jordie Barrett’s second and brother Beauden’s last minute score saw the Kiwis outscore the tourist’s seven tries to one.
Had Jordie been more accurate from the kicking tee, the score would have been larger; the gulf in class, however, was evident to all.
Final score: Hurricanes 41 (22) Stormers 22 (16)
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries – Jane. J Barrett (2), J. Savea, Luamape (2), B. Barrett
Pen –
Con – J. Barrett (3)
Drop –
Cards – Shields (Yellow, 70th minute)
Stormers
Tries – Samuels
Pen – Du Preez, SP Marais (4)
Con – Du Preez
Drop –
Cards – Mbonambi (Yellow, 22nd minute)
Match Officials
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant Ref 1: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2: Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Glenn Newman
Teams
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Thomas Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Vaea Fifita, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Michael Kainga, 19 James Blackwell, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Otere Black, 23 Ben Lam.
Stormers: 15 Sarel Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Oliver Kebble, 19 John Schickerling, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Bjorn Basson.
