Wellington’s Hurricanes powered to a 47-19 bonus point victory over Hamilton’s Chiefs at the Westpac Stadium to keep the pressure on leaders the Crusaders.
The Hurricanes outscored the Chiefs by seven tries to three in the match with two of the Hurricanes tries being scored by Jordie Barrett.
The Hurricanes score of 47 points and seven tries is the most they have ever scored against the Chiefs.
The Chiefs loss is their sixth from 10 matches this season the result is the Hurricanes seventh win from 10 matches.
The Hurricanes raced out to a 14-0 lead after seven minutes after fullback Jordie Barrett scored two early tries that were both converted by brother his Barrett.
The power demonstrated by the Hurricanes in the opening quarter set the tone for the match.
In the first half six tries were scored and neither side showed much in terms of defensive systems and at the break the Hurricanes led 28-12.
Jordie Barrett’s first try was scored after just three minutes and came after a couple of inside passes which opened a gap and allowed Barrett to dart through and score under the posts.
Three minutes later he was in again after fielding an off-target Chiefs clearance kick and was able to run 48 metres untouched to score.
The Hurricanes extended their lead to 21-0 when lock Kane Le’aupepe was driven over following a line out.
The Chiefs hit back by working the ball through slow and steady phases and grinding down the Hurricanes. Flanker Luke Jacobson and winger Ataata Moekiola went over to reduce the lead from 21-0 to 21-12 after 19 minutes.
Hurricanes and All Blacks scrumhalf TJ Perenara scored next for the home side to set up the 28-12 lead at the interval.
The Chiefs got an almost perfect start to the second half by scoring almost immediately through flanker Lachlan Boshier following a chip kick from flyhalf Marty McKenzie which was regathered by center Anton Lienert-Brown.
Boshier’s try got the Chiefs back to within 9 points at 28-19.
The Hurricanes however pulled away again when winger Wes Goosen showed his pace beating Solomon Alaimalo in a race to the corner. Goosen’s try was the eighth of the contest.
All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea then won the ball on the ground and Perenara and Jordie Barrett combined on the wing and got the ball to the 5m line where Savea rejoined the attack and powered through a tackle to score a brilliant try.
The match then deterirated due to the weather and after 9 tries some tiredness kicked in during the final quarter.
Replacement winger Salesi Rayasi came on to the field with almost 9 minutes remaining and with his second touch of the ball scored in the corner to give him a perfect Super rugby debut.
Rayasi’s try was the tenth of the match but the stars of the match were the Barrett brothers who returned after a week off and made a strong statement with the world cup now less than 150 days away.
Next week in Round 12 the Hurricanes are at home again in Wellington where they will host the Rebels while the Chiefs travel to Dunedin to play the Highlanders.
Final score Hurricanes 47(28) Chiefs 19(12)
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries – J.Barrett 2, K. Le’aupepe, TJ. Perenara, W.Goosen, A.Savea, S.Rayasi
Pen –
Con – B.Barrett 6
Drop –
Cards –
Chiefs
Tries – L.Jacobson, A.Moekiola, L.Boshier
Pen –
Con – M.McKenzie 2
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Ref 1:Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2: Brendon Pickerill
TMO :Shane McDermott
Teams
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Kane Le’aupepe, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Fraser Armstrong.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Sam Henwood, 21 Richard Judd, 22 James Marshall, 23 Salesi Rayasi
Chiefs
15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Ataata Moekiola, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Mitchell Brown, 4 Michael Allardice (c), 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Atu Moli
Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Jesse Parete , 20 Taleni Seue, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Alex Nankivell