Hurricanes grab home semi

Hurricanes 19 Waratahs 14 

The Hurricanes won a coveted home Super 14 rugby semifinal when they upset the Waratahs in their final round match at Aussie Stadium tonight with a punishing, dramatic 19-14 win.

The Waratahs spent almost the entire second half camped deep in Hurricanes territory but were only able to add one try after the Hurricanes started the half with a 19-7 lead.

They survived the Waratahs' probes with rugged defence, even when persistent infringing cost them two yellow cards against hooker Andrew Hore and halfback Piri Weepu in the second spell.

The Waratahs turned down shots at goal in their quest of tries and went desperately close in the dying minutes, but poor handling and tight defence of the Hurricanes denied them.

The NSW side, who looked assured of a home semifinal a fortnight ago, stumbled with a loss to the Chiefs last week and again looked far from composed tonight.

They were hit with the news earlier today that star winger Wendell Sailor was out of the side pending an investigation into an alleged serious breach of the Australian Rugby Union code of conduct.

But whatever their off-field dramas, they looked far from composed tonight, with poor kicking and bumbling hands marring their performance.

And now they will have to travel to the far less friendly surroundings of Westpac Stadium in Wellington for the semifinal.

The Waratahs started strongly, pinning the Hurricanes back with diagonal kicks into the corners, but it was the Hurricanes who scored first.

Left winger Shannon Paku finished off a dynamic try after man-of-the-match Ma'a Nonu cut through the defence, before Tana Umaga and fullback Isaia Toeava chimed in to send Paku away in the seventh minute.

They scored again eight minutes later, with flanker Jerry Collins this time making the bust, putting Umaga in the clear.

He was nabbed short of the line, but from the ensuing ruck, Neemia Tialata fed fellow prop John Schwalger, who was jubilant in grabbing his first Super 14 try.

The Waratahs pressed strongly on attack. They were denied a try when Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo got underneath one charge for the line but replied quickly with flanker Phil Waugh diving over in the corner after some lazy defence by the Hurricanes, though there were suggestions he put a foot on the touchline en route.

But as halftime approached, the Hurricanes broke out again.

Nonu went close to the Waratahs line only to lose the ball forward.

First five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth, who was having a bad time with his handling, latched on when it counted as the ball spilled over the Waratahs line after Chris Masoe charged down a Peter Hewat clearance.

Gopperth converted to give the Hurricanes a surprise 19-7 lead at halftime.

The Waratahs dominated the second half, pinning the Hurricanes deep in their own territory but the defence was punishing - and at times too punishing.

The Wellington side gave away several penalties and referee Craig Joubert warned them about repeated infringements before marching Hore in the 48th minute to the sin bin for obstruction in a ruck.

Hore wasn't back long on the field when halfback Piri Weepu was sent to the same chair for a high tackle on Waratahs replacement Brett Sheehan.

The Waratahs took their chance immediately with Sam Norton-Knight crossing over for a try in the 66th minute. Hewat's conversion took the score to 19-14.

Both teams threw the ball around in the last 10 minutes, but for the last five it was all the Waratahs.

They had several lunges at the line, and the Hurricanes were saved once by a brilliant Tamati Ellison tackle to cut down Morgan Turinui from behind.

Sheehan and prop Benn Robinson both lost control of the ball in the dying minutes before Joubert blew fulltime to the delight of the Hurricanes and the boos of the Waratahs fans.

Hurricanes 19 (Shannon Paku, John Schwalger, Jimmy Gopperth tries; Gopperth 2 con)
Waratahs 14 (Phil Waugh, Sam Norton-Knight tries; Peter Hewat 2 con

-NZPA