Hurricanes win, but Cooper not smiling

Colin Cooper's Hurricanes may have trudged off Westpac Stadium with four points in the bag, but the grimace across the coach's face was evident after last night's scrappy Super 12 rugby match.

The Hurricanes 28-16, three-tries to one, victory over the hapless Chiefs flattered the home side who, for the second consecutive week, struggled in the forwards, especially in set-phase play as both sides bumbled through the game.

Even though the Hurricanes picked up their fifth win from six matches and continue a march towards the semifinals, Cooper admitted more work was needed from the engine room to make the playoffs for just the third time.

The Chiefs hopes of looking to repeat their debut semifinal appearance from last year now look dead and buried as they languish in last place on four points.

"If we want to move on (in this competition), which is what we want to do, we have to have a look at ourselves individually and as a group. The hard word has to be put on the team now," Cooper said.

"I don't think we should be coming from a half like that and realising we're going to get our arse kicked, then making things happen from there."

Cooper had good cause to complain about his charges after the first 40 minutes.

The forwards failed to break the advantage line and gain momentum, the scrums were screwed constantly and turnover ball at the rucks were far too frequent.

The Hurricanes rarely ventured into Chiefs territory, while possession was aimlessly kicked away at times.

Only numerous Chiefs infringements allowed the Hurricanes to relieve the pressure.

But although they dominated the first half, the Chiefs were also guilty of handling errors, while some staunch defence restricted them to a solitary try from first-five eighth David Hill who barrelled his way over the tryline from close range.

Add a penalty from No 10 Jimmy Gopperth for the hosts and a try to halfback Piri Weepu against the run of play, and the Hurricanes fortuitously led 10-7 before Hill banged over another penalty on the stroke of halftime.

"At set-piece we have to put the hard work in," Cooper said.

"We can't expect our backs to score tries from scrums being screwed and lineouts that are static, so we have clear idea of what needs to be fixed.

"I thought our attack on their ball was good. We turned a lot of it over. We're probably not taking the right options, but those are things will right. It's the set piece we need to work at."

What the Hurricanes did excel in was punishing the Chiefs spilt ball.

Conrad Smith's 51st minute try under the posts after some snappy stepping from fullback Shannon Paku came from turnover ball.

Hill landed another two penalties to trim the Hurricanes lead to 20-16, but Hurricanes skipper Tana Umaga pounced on a Hill fumble to race 35 metres and seal victory with seven minutes remaining

For the Chiefs, their speedy back three of fullback Sitiveni Sivivatu and wingers Sosene Anesi and Sailosi Tagicakibau looked threatening when in space, while second five-eighth Umaga was the most damaging back for the hosts.

The Hurricanes next match is against the Waratahs, while the Chiefs can try and resurrect their season with the first of three games against the South African franchises.

- NZPA