Hurricanes blow chance to seal top-four placing

Brumbies 21 Hurricanes 16

There were a host of reasons why the Hurricanes didn't beat the Brumbies, but skills execution was the main one, coach Colin Cooper said yesterday.

It was an intense match, particularly at the breakdown, but the Brumbies, even without playmakers Stephen Larkham and Matt Giteau, were able to tough it out best.

The Hurricanes are still third in the competition, two points ahead of the Brumbies, but they let slip a golden chance of sealing a top-four place.

They won their share of ball but struggled to pierce a fierce defence. They were able to cross the tryline only once, in the 71st minute when Lome Fa'atau gathered a short kick through.

They had a chance in the dying minutes to grab a second and perhaps the win, when they had an overlap, but the Brumbies impeded the attack.

Too many passes went astray for Cooper's liking.

"The passes didn't stick, there were dropped balls and our execution was not good enough at this level and I guess the intensity is the reason why."

It was torrid at the breakdown, with renowned Wallabies loose forward George Smith snaffling plenty of turnover ball for the Brumbies. Cooper said his players would have to absorb the lessons and regroup against the Chiefs on Saturday.

"They play a similar style to us, so it will come down to who is hungriest."

- NZPA