Barrett leads Hurricanes to win over Chiefs

Beauden Barrett inspired the Hurricanes to a 25-13 victory over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

The game was won with a double blow by the Hurricanes just after the break opened up a 22-6 lead for the home team.

Barrett scored and set-up Ngani Laumape‘s try with a sumptuous cross-kick to take the Hurricanes into a 16-point second-half lead within five minutes of the restart.

The game was won with a double blow by the Hurricanes just after the break opened up a 22-6 lead for the home team.

This is the Hurricanes’ sixth win on the trot, scoring three tries to one, with Jordie Barrett kicking 10 points.

Ben Lam opened the scoring in the seventh-minute after a break in midfield, slipping three tackles before dotting down under the posts.

Lachlan Boshier gave the Chiefs a chance when he crossed in the corner with a quarter of the game remaining.

This win over the Waikato men takes the Wellington side to the top of the New Zealand Conference.

Lam causing chaos all over the park.

Lam carried three defenders with him before being tackled into touch, in the fourth minute.

The Hurricanes came again, this time the flyer would not be denied.

Lam collected Ngani Laumape’s offload and burst through three defenders, who all slipped off the big man.

The winger switched the ball in his hands and shrugged off Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Charlie Ngatai and Sean Wainui to score under the posts.

The 26-year-old beat nine defenders with eight carries, making 120 metres as he wreaked havoc all over the pitch.

Jordie Barrett, taking over kicking duties from brother Beauden, traded penalties with the effervescent Damian McKenzie.

The opening half-hour was brutal. Aiden Ross left the field with a serious leg injury after Angus Ta’avao-Matau was tackled and landed on Ross.

Sam Harwood had left for an HIA in this stop-start affair, the medics earning their coin.

Vaea Fifita burst through the middle of the ruck and raced 40 metres down the field before Wainui brought him to ground.

Jamie Booth’s errant pass probably cost the Canes because Jordie Barrett was away for five points.

Lam beat three defenders from inside his 22, passed to Jordie Barrett, who looked to be away for the score, but a great tackle from Solomon Alaimalo saw the fullback lose the ball into touch.

The move started from QB Beauden Barrett, who launched a line-drive instead of a lineout which set up the play.

It is moments like these that set the hurricanes apart – inspiration and a flair for the theatrical.

It was becoming a horror show for the Chiefs on Friday the 13th thanks to Beauden Barrett’s Brilliance.

The 26-year-old thought he scored before the break after intercepting, but his score did not stand because of an offside infringement against the Hurricanes.

McKenzie reduced the deficit to four, just before the interval.

The Hurricanes effectively won the match in the opening exchanges after half-time when they crossed twice in five minutes.

A sensational start kicked off with another piece of Beauden Barrett brilliance – and opportunism.

The ubiquitous Lam knocked Wainui’s hand and the ball went backwards.

Barrett swooped on the loose ball and sped down the sideline.

The first-five felt the cover defenders breathing down his neck and chipped the ball forward.

Brodie Retallick kept up with his All Blacks team-mate in the footrace.

Both dived for the rolling ball, getting a hand on it, but referee Jamie Nutbrown and the TMO decided to award the try to Barrett.

Super Rugby is like a London bus; none for ages, then two.

Instead of going through a series of pick-and-goes, Beauden Barrett collected the ball, and without even hesitating, put up a high cross-kick for his outside backs.

Ngani Laumape beat Anton Lienert-Brown in the air, spun out and dotted down.

McKenzie and Alaimalo led the fightback.

The standoff tried everything to get his side back in the contest. All good things came through him.

Alaimalo was sensational, carrying 15 times for 190 metres, beating seven defenders.

The winger was strong in the tackle, spinning out of tackles, powering through defenders and setting up attacks out of nothing.

He might have had a try but Ngatai kicked when he should have passed.

The Chiefs’ pressure finally paid dividends when Boshier gave the visitors hope.

Boshier found space on the outside and ran away for the Chiefs’ first try.

McKenzie had kept a broken play alive, played Ngatai before the fullback’s long pass opened up space for the blindside flank.

That was all that the Chiefs could muster, blowing several opportunities with poor passing, handling and ill-discipline.

Jordie Barrett’s late penalty sealed the deal for the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes versus Chiefs video highlights.

Final score: Hurricanes 25 (10) Chiefs 13 (6)

Scorers

Hurricanes
Tries – Lam, B. Barrett, Laumape
Pen – J. Barrett (2)
Con – J. Barrett (2)
Drop –
Cards –

Chiefs
Tries – Boshier
Pen – D. McKenzie (2)
Con – D. McKenzie
Drop –
Cards –

Match Officials
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown
Assistant Ref 1: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2: Cam Stone
TMO: Glenn Newman

Teams

Hurricanes

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith.

Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19  Murray Douglas, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen.

Chiefs

15 Charlie Ngatai, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao-Matau, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross.

Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Luke Jacobson, 20 Liam Messam, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Alex Nankivell.