Nonu magic spellbinds Brumbies

Hurricanes 49 Brumbies 37


An electric burst by winger Ma'a Nonu helped propel the Hurricanes to a rousing 49-37 Super 12 rugby victory over the Brumbies at Westpac Stadium tonight.

The powerfully built left winger scored three tries in the spell of just 16 minutes in the second half to keep alive his side's title aspirations.

The Hurricanes improved to third place on 30 points with two rounds remaining while the Brumbies, the 2004 champions, slumped to their fifth successive loss to all but be assured of missing the semifinals.

Nonu's first try in the 46th minute broke a 20-20 deadlock and nine minutes later he was at it again, being hemmed for room along the left-hand touchline but still eluding three defenders after a sweeping move ignited by flanker Jerry Collins before swift hands among the backs gave Nonu his opportunity.

He had little work to do when completing his hat-trick in the 62nd minute when he was given an overlap but the damage had been done as the Hurricanes surged ahead 37-23.

Nonu then left the field with an ankle injury but another two tries followed, both down the left flank, by replacement winger Hosea Gear and then substitute halfback Isaac Boss as the Hurricanes inflicted a record score against the Brumbies.

The Brumbies scored two late tries to George Smith and Alister Campbell to lift their match tally to four and pick up a bonus point but by that stage it was of academic interest only.

The Hurricanes led 20-13 at the interval despite being on the back foot for much of the first half.

They were 10-0 ahead after 19 minutes after captain and second five-eighth Tana Umaga scored a try on their first excursion into the opposition's 22 for Jimmy Gopperth to convert before adding a penalty.

The Brumbies then assumed control to edge in front 13-10 following two penalties to Stirling Mortlock, who also converted a try to flanker Owen Finegan after hooker Jeremy Paul, Mortlock and lastly Finegan forged ahead from a ruck deep inside the Hurricanes 22.

Another penalty by Gopperth levelled the scores before winger Lome Fa'atau scored a try in the last movement of the spell when a lovely dummy pass, shimmy and acceleration from centre Conrad Smith deceived George Smith and created space down Fa'atau's right flank.

- NZPA