Rugby: Canes suffer first loss of season

Beauden Barrett of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images.

Hurricanes 24
Waratahs 29

The Hurricanes were brought back to earth with their first loss of the Super Rugby season after they were upset 29-24 by the Waratahs in Wellington yesterday.

After starting the campaign with seven wins from as many matches, the Hurricanes were only able to escape with two bonus points after they were unable to make the most of their opportunities. Those bonus points allowed them to stay atop the Super Rugby ladder.

Coming off a bye is often tricky for sides and it showed in the Hurricanes as they stumbled in the second half, despite having a wealth of possession.

The first half was full of entertainment as six tries were scored and the sides went to the split at 19-all.

Peter Betham bagged a brace for the visitors, while giant lock Will Skelton added another and for the Hurricanes, Conrad Smith, Beauden Barrett and Brad Shields all got on the board.

The Hurricanes should have taken a lead to the break but flanker Ardie Savea butchered what should have been the game's opening try inside the first 10 minutes but he dropped the ball over the line, while attempting to dot it down.

Nobody was near Savea and it had shades of former Hurricanes fullback Christian Cullen who made the same mistake against the Waratahs in Sydney in 2002.

Afternoon rugby is a rare occurrence in New Zealand Super Rugby games but it allowed for a host of local juniors to play on the field at halftime too. The crowd was 14,832.

The Waratahs refuse to die wondering and love to shift the ball through the hands and despite coming in to the game in 10th on the ladder, they warranted respect as the defending champions.

When Israel Folau scored in the 52nd minute, and Bernard Foley added a penalty shortly after, they took a 29-19 lead to the final quarter of the game.

The Hurricanes made it hard on themselves throughout the game as they pushed passes that weren't there and made errors at inopportune times. They made 15 errors in the game to the Waratahs' six.

Composure has been one of the features of the Hurricanes' improved form in 2015 but they seemed frazzled by the visitors who were able to put the Hurricanes under pressure.

Chris Boyd's side enjoyed a wave of possession and territory in the second spell but to the Waratahs' credit, they hung tough on defence. Their backs pushed the offside line to the letter of the law all game and were notably flat in defence.

Halfback TJ Perenara brought the Hurricanes back in to the contest as the clocked ticked past 70 minutes as he scored from close range to leave them down 29-24.

The No 9 had left the paddock to have a nasty cut treated in the opening spell but he delivered when his team needed him as the game headed towards an exciting finish.

But there was no late heroics for the Hurricanes as they were left to rue their missed chances.

Waratahs 29 (Peter Betham 2, Will Skelton, Israel Folau tries; Bernard Foley 3 con, pen) Hurricanes 24 (Conrad Smith, Beauden Barrett, Brad Shields, TJ Perenara tries; Barrett 2 con) halftime: 19-19