KEY POINTS:
Hurricanes 21
Force 10
The Hurricanes are not renowned for their restraint. Nor have they built their reputation on tight, driving play from their pack.
But in difficult conditions in Wellington last night, where the swirling wind and rain blasts caused all sorts of problems, the Hurricanes hunkered down to tailor their game and see off the Force for the win which kept their Super 14 semifinal ambitions afloat.
You could add discipline to the Hurricanes' improved portfolio although they did concede several double penalties for dissent and flipped some lazy passes which would have annoyed coach Colin Cooper. But from the start, the Hurricanes looked to have digested all the messages Cooper would have delivered about making the advantage line, controlling possession, making their tackles and grinding away through the pack.
The opening sequence was a revelation as the Hurricanes marched the length of the field in an error-free start which eventually drew a penalty for Piri Weepu to succeed. Pick and go, spread it wide, take it up in midfield - the Hurricanes set the tone for the way they wanted to dominate the game.
That they couldn't was a tribute to the Force who had an equal share of possession but dominated the territory through Matt Giteau's tasty kicking while the Hurricanes made most of their metres through the driving play of hardmen Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata and Rodney So'oialo backed by sniping inroads from Weepu.
The human plough, Hore, burrowed across for the opening try, his fifth of the season, when the TMO confirmed he had splintered the Force pack but it was the only try of the half. Tialata claimed another but the TMO did not agree while the Force should have gathered more than three points in the first half but Giteau miscued three other penalty attempts.
In another likely attacking foray, new five-eighths Willie Ripia was dropped like a mullet on the line by Drew Mitchell, Chris Masoe was pinned near the line and then Weepu suffered the same fate when he was sconned by Force skipper Nathan Sharpe whose team showed remarkable courage and tenacity on defence.
They were a side without 10 injured regulars but their organisation and understanding spoke loudly about the coaching former All Black coach John Mitchell has brought to Australia's fourth franchise. That pattern of Force resistance holding out the Hurricanes intent continued in the second half. Twice the Force denied the Hurricanes' over the line before a defensive lineout overthrow cost them.
Handy flanker Scott Waldrom collected a stray ball which was swept wide and Hosea Gear outflanked the defencee which was a man down with opensider David Pocock in the sinbin because of offences at the breakdown.
There was a sense the Hurricanes might conjure up a bonus-point try in the last 15 minutes but it was the Force who showed real grit to grab the only late touchdown when Waldrom could not outsprint Cameron Shepherd's remarkable solo kick and chase in treacherous conditions.
Victory allowed the Hurricanes to leapfrog the Waratahs and settle into second place on the table behind the Crusaders but, depending on other results this weekend, the Hurricanes may still need to beat the Blues next Friday at Eden Park to confirm their place in the final four.
Hurricanes 21 (A Hore, H Gear, tries; P Weepu 3 pen, con
Force 10 (C Shepherd, try; M Giteau pen, con) Halftime 10-3.
Halftime 10-3
