Cooper's reign ends on losing note as Waratahs claim last semis spot with Crusaders
FULL TIME SCORE
Waratahs 32
Hurricanes 16
The Hurricanes' golden late run came unstuck in Sydney last night as they farewelled coach Colin Cooper amid the disconcerting injury exit of captain Andrew Hore.
A gallant unbroken haul of a draw and four wins gave the Hurricanes a glimpse of the Super 14 playoffs but that prospect became a mirage as their high error rate and the pressure exerted by the Waratahs told.
The Waratahs' victory pushed them into second place and the chance of hosting a Sydney semifinal if the Stormers are upset at home tomorrow by an alternate Bulls side.
If that happens, the South African sides will play each other again next week while the Waratahs will host the Crusaders in the second semifinal.
Defeat in Sydney was an ordinary end to an erratic campaign for the Hurricanes but a snapshot of their rollercoaster efforts year.
They can stay with the best, as they showed with their performances against the Crusaders, Bulls and Brumbies this season, but they also dipped in their work against the Sharks and Cheetahs.
Cooper had guided the Hurricanes to five semifinals and one final in his solid eight years at the helm but there was no rainbow result there or in his last campaign.
Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo said after the match: "In the last few weeks we've absorbed a lot of pressure but tonight the Waratahs took it to us and got past us and over the advantage line."
The Hurricanes were suffocated, denied by an impressive collective physical effort from the Waratahs and then sunk by the attacking brilliance of men such as Kurtley Beale, Lachie Turner and Drew Mitchell.
As their hosts turned the screw more, the Hurricanes began to shrivel.
Their mistake rate climbed, they started to bicker and struggled to make much headway. They did not score a try until David Smith crossed with six minutes left and Turner in the sinbin.
The Waratahs were clad in new kit, a blotchy uniform to be auctioned for charity, instead of their traditional sky-blue jersey. Their early play was as dodgy as their kit and they also lost new loosehead prop Dan Palmer to injury.
Berrick Barnes and Piri Weepu swapped penalties before Beale's first foray drew a golden reward. He has found a much better rhythm to his game since being switched to fullback, where his instincts and vision have prospered.
He ghosted into the line and delivered his signature trinity try - a chip, chase and regather special - to cap a half break from Rob Horne, who was in prime midfield form throughout.
The heat continued from the Waratahs but halfback Luke Burgess got carried away when he tapped a penalty they could have thrown over and the Canes escaped.
They lost influential captain Hore and his scrummaging clout with a serious injury to his left arm and the Tahs doubled that disappointment with an 80m counterattack try begun by Turner.
He repeated Beale's special move and, when chased down near the Canes' 22, flung a huge pass to Mitchell which the wing controlled well to score.
It seemed one-way traffic for much of the half but when referee Chris Pollock called a break, the Waratahs only led 18-9 as Weepu pegged them back with a further penalty.
The Hurricanes had seen little ball and therefore were restricted in their attacking chances.
The outcome looked ominous unless they could find some individual brilliance or some counter to the Waratahs' overwhelming advantage in possession. That task proved too much as the Waratahs maintained their unbeaten home record this season.
Waratahs 32 (K Beale 2, D Mitchell 2, tries; B Barnes 3 con, 2 pen)
Hurricanes 16 (D Smith, try; P Weepu, 3 pen, con) Halftime: 18-9
