Sydney was witness to a Titanic battle but it wasn’t a classic match and it certainly wasn’t a good advert for Rugby. The Hurricanes got two yellow cards and gave away countless penalties.
The Hurricanes started off well scoring three tries in the first half. The Waratahs only managed to score one try by Phil Waugh in the 1st half. Waugh’s try was awarded and the TV replay showed that Waugh got as close as you can to stepping on the line without going out.
At half time the Hurricanes led comfortably at 7 – 19. The Hurricanes could not add to their points tally in the second haf as it was a completely different match with the Waratahs spending most of the half on attack.
The Waratahs spent 20 minutes only 10 metres from the Hurricanes line but could not seal the win.
The Hurricanes gave away penalty after penalty because they knew the Waratahs needed a tries not kicks. Had the Waratahs taken their kicks successfully they would have won comfortably.
Every time the Waratahs got a penalty they went for the line out and once they got the maul going the Hurricanes took it to ground.
It wasn’t good rugby but it was clever. Yellow cards were shown to Hooker Andre Hore and Piri Weepu.
There were moments of brilliant rugby and on the whole it was an exciting match.Tireless defence won the match for the Hurricanes.
In 20 minutes of being 10 m from the Hurricanes tryline the Waratahs could only manage to score one try by Sam Norton-Knight. Hewat converted. They were the only points of the half.
The Semi finals will now both be in New Zealand and will be hosted by the Crusaders and the Hurricanes. The Waratahs will play the Hurricanes again and the Crusaders will host either the Bulls or most probably the Sharks.
Final score Waratahs 14 Hurricanes 19
Scorers
Waratahs – Tries, Waugh, Norton-Knight – Conversions , Hewat 2
Hurricanes – Tries, Paku, Schwalger, Gopperth – Conversions – Gopperth 2
