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Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper lauded his test back row as their hard work set up the glory for the glamour boys out wide to deliver a shock 39-17 hammering of the Blues in the Rebel Sport Super 14 opener in Auckland on Friday night.
Down 3-16 at the break, the call was for composure and a bit more urgency. That came as the rain arrived after halftime and the result was five stunning second half tries for a vital bonus point win on the road to open a campaign that appears to have so much promise.
"I think the key factor of the whole game was the Auckland weather. It changed it a little bit and we are pretty hungry at the loose ball. They will chase anything and everything," Cooper said of his All Blacks loosies Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Chris Masoe.
"They are physical guys that attack that area and I thought the Blues at eight, nine and 10 hadn't had a lot of time in the preseason.
"I think we adapted better when the rain came purely because we were more committed. The rain didn't worry me."
The hustle and bustle was too much for the Blues, something even vanquished coach David Nucifora admitted.
"They are a very good back row ... that is obvious," the Blues mentor said. "If you let them play with the ball in front of them, they are handful for anyone, there's no doubt about that.
"Their kicking game in the second half and their power in the midfield in the second half to hit it up close and get their backrowers into the game - that's where they won it and we lost it. They played to the conditions far better than we did."
Cooper said he was content with a first half that had signs of promise that wasn't reflected on the scoreboard. He felt things would happen for his side in the second spell and he was dead right there.
"The stats showed the Blues had made about 50 tackles in the first 30 minutes. It was just the little things ... we were a bit rusty. We have only had the All Blacks back for a couple of weeks and probably both teams would have liked another week before we met each other," said Cooper.
"We backed ourselves at halftime. It was pretty calm in the shed and we were confident."
The confidence is very evident in the Hurricanes both on and off the field. After 10 years of also-rans in the Super 12, this new competition is a fresh start for a side that has often let themselves and their fans down when it has mattered most.
Chock full of internationals, they believe they have to realise their abilities in 2006.
As the normally reserved Cooper said: "We feel it's time that we deliver."
They certainly did that in the second spell of this opening match.
The Hurricanes also came out of the game in reasonable shape on the injury front with just a knock to a leg on Tana Umaga their only real concern ahead of next week's match with the Western Force in New Plymouth.
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Like their cohorts in Perth, South Africa's newest addition to Super 14 rugby played hard, with some skill and plenty of enthusiasm, but found the going just a little but tough when push came to shove.
And like John Mitchell's Western Force, the Cheetahs of Free State lost their debut game in the Rebel Sport Super 14 at home when they were run down by a strong finish from their visitors, losing 18-30 to the Bulls in Bloemfontein.
Still, like Mitchell over in Perth, Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus can probably take heart from his team's debut performance and perhaps even look forward to more favourable results down the line. Certainly the Cheetahs showed enough in a stirring opening encounter to suggest that the Currie Cup champions are going to be no easy-beats in this competition.
The Bulls had looked to be cruising midway through the second spell at 20-10, a penalty from Derick Hougaard extending their 17-10 halftime lead.
But in front of a huge home crowd, the Cheetahs sprung to life. In a flash they had a penalty by Willem de Waal and a try to debutante Ronnie Cooke, and at 18-20 with a relatively easy conversion to come the Bulls looked to have been reigned in.
But that's when things started going awry for the newcomers. Meyer Bosman, who'd played a key part in de Waal's try, was given the conversion attempt, which he hooked badly.
The Bulls were then stung into life over the closing stages. Hougaard, who didn't have the best of nights with his boot, landed his second penalty and, as the Cheetahs pressed for the try they needed, Bok wonder wing Bryan Habana pounced for a trademark interception to race away for a score by the posts.
Not only had the Bulls denied the Cheetahs what would have been a sensational first-up victory, but they grabbed a bonus point themselves, and denied their hosts one they probably deserved.
The victory by the Bulls, which overturned last year's Currie Cup final, completed a hat-trick of wins for the visiting teams on opening day of the new Super 14.
Earlier the Bulls had hit back after conceding a try in the second minute to right wing Eddie Fredericks. And it was that man Bryan Habana, who scored 12 tries in as many matches for the Springboks in 2005, who played a key role in two of the Bulls' three first-half touchdowns.
Habana's quick hands from second phase possession after a fine break by scrumhalf Fourie du Preez helped Johan Roets to the line after 30 minutes.
Six minutes later he launched a fierce tackle on Cheetahs centre Barry Goodes, dislodging the ball into the hands of JP Nel. Nel and flyhalf Derick Hougaard combined over the next 50 metres before centre Wynand Olivier dashed in from the 22.
The score was the Bulls' third try in the first half after wing Akona Ndungane had opened the account just inside the first quarter when he went over in the right hand corner from a long skip pass by Johan Wasserman.
As usual the Bulls relied on that big, rumbling pack of theirs and the opportunism of Habana, but the Cheetahs showed they're going to be a competitive unit this season and on other days are going to get the rub of the green.
The match did deteriorate a little in the second spell, perhaps as the stakes became evident, but for a first-up effort it wasn't the worst and both sides will probably take some heart out of a fairly willing encounter.
"I don't think we played that well but we showed a lot of character considering the number of injuries we had," said Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer afterwards.
"We stuck to our game plan in a very tactical game but we did well to come and beat the Currie Cup champion on their home ground."
Cheetahs 18: Eddie Fredericks, Ronnie Cooke tries; Willem De Waal 2 pen con.
Bulls 30: Akona Ndungane, Johan Roets, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana tries; Derick Hougaard 2 pen 2 con. Ht: 10-17.
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The ACT Brumbies piled on 17 unanswered points in the last quarter to defeat Super 14 newcomers the Western Force 25-10 on the opening day of the 2006 championship at Perth's Subiaco Oval on Friday.
The Force threatened a major upset when they led 10-8 midway through the second half after former Brumbies forward Scott Fava crashed over for his team's only try.
But the Brumbies, the only Australian team to win the old Super 12, regained their composure with Joel Wilson and Matt Giteau crossing for late tries to seal a comfortable victory.
"It wasn't too pretty but we're happy to get the points," Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock said.
"Full credit to the Force, they're going to be a very competitive team this season."
Perth-based Western Force were permitted to join the southern hemisphere's annual regional competition this year to give Australia a fourth franchise along with the Brumbies, the New South Wales Waratahs and the Queensland Reds.
"For the first 60 minutes, the boys really dug in and got in their faces," Force skipper Nathan Sharpe said.
"There was a bit of experience there at the end, we made a few mistakes and the Brumbies capitalised on that."
The Brumbies, packed with Wallaby internationals, led 8-3 at halftime after lock Mark Chisholm scored the only try of the opening period while Mortlock and Force flyhalf Scott Daruda traded penalties.
The Force went ahead six minutes after the re-start when their impressive scrumhalf Matt Henjak offloaded for No 8t Fava to dive over and Daruda coverted.
The home team held the lead until the 58th minute when man of the match George Smith recycled a turnover for replacement back Wilson to score in the left corner off the next phase.
Mortlock converted and four minutes later, the Brumbies were in again, Giteau sprinting through a hole in the defence to cross untouched and put the result beyond doubt.
The Brumbies travel to South Africa next weekend to play the Bulls in Pretoria while the Force head east to New Zealand to tackle the Hurricanes in New Plymouth.
Brumbies 25: Mark Chisholm, Joel Wilson, Matt Giteau tries; Stirling Mortlock 2 con, 2 pen.
Western Force 10: Scott Fava try; Scott Daruda con, pen.
HT: 8-3
sauce- www.xtra.co.nz
Down 3-16 at the break, the call was for composure and a bit more urgency. That came as the rain arrived after halftime and the result was five stunning second half tries for a vital bonus point win on the road to open a campaign that appears to have so much promise.
"I think the key factor of the whole game was the Auckland weather. It changed it a little bit and we are pretty hungry at the loose ball. They will chase anything and everything," Cooper said of his All Blacks loosies Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Chris Masoe.
"They are physical guys that attack that area and I thought the Blues at eight, nine and 10 hadn't had a lot of time in the preseason.
"I think we adapted better when the rain came purely because we were more committed. The rain didn't worry me."
The hustle and bustle was too much for the Blues, something even vanquished coach David Nucifora admitted.
"They are a very good back row ... that is obvious," the Blues mentor said. "If you let them play with the ball in front of them, they are handful for anyone, there's no doubt about that.
"Their kicking game in the second half and their power in the midfield in the second half to hit it up close and get their backrowers into the game - that's where they won it and we lost it. They played to the conditions far better than we did."
Cooper said he was content with a first half that had signs of promise that wasn't reflected on the scoreboard. He felt things would happen for his side in the second spell and he was dead right there.
"The stats showed the Blues had made about 50 tackles in the first 30 minutes. It was just the little things ... we were a bit rusty. We have only had the All Blacks back for a couple of weeks and probably both teams would have liked another week before we met each other," said Cooper.
"We backed ourselves at halftime. It was pretty calm in the shed and we were confident."
The confidence is very evident in the Hurricanes both on and off the field. After 10 years of also-rans in the Super 12, this new competition is a fresh start for a side that has often let themselves and their fans down when it has mattered most.
Chock full of internationals, they believe they have to realise their abilities in 2006.
As the normally reserved Cooper said: "We feel it's time that we deliver."
They certainly did that in the second spell of this opening match.
The Hurricanes also came out of the game in reasonable shape on the injury front with just a knock to a leg on Tana Umaga their only real concern ahead of next week's match with the Western Force in New Plymouth.
*********************************
Like their cohorts in Perth, South Africa's newest addition to Super 14 rugby played hard, with some skill and plenty of enthusiasm, but found the going just a little but tough when push came to shove.
And like John Mitchell's Western Force, the Cheetahs of Free State lost their debut game in the Rebel Sport Super 14 at home when they were run down by a strong finish from their visitors, losing 18-30 to the Bulls in Bloemfontein.
Still, like Mitchell over in Perth, Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus can probably take heart from his team's debut performance and perhaps even look forward to more favourable results down the line. Certainly the Cheetahs showed enough in a stirring opening encounter to suggest that the Currie Cup champions are going to be no easy-beats in this competition.
The Bulls had looked to be cruising midway through the second spell at 20-10, a penalty from Derick Hougaard extending their 17-10 halftime lead.
But in front of a huge home crowd, the Cheetahs sprung to life. In a flash they had a penalty by Willem de Waal and a try to debutante Ronnie Cooke, and at 18-20 with a relatively easy conversion to come the Bulls looked to have been reigned in.
But that's when things started going awry for the newcomers. Meyer Bosman, who'd played a key part in de Waal's try, was given the conversion attempt, which he hooked badly.
The Bulls were then stung into life over the closing stages. Hougaard, who didn't have the best of nights with his boot, landed his second penalty and, as the Cheetahs pressed for the try they needed, Bok wonder wing Bryan Habana pounced for a trademark interception to race away for a score by the posts.
Not only had the Bulls denied the Cheetahs what would have been a sensational first-up victory, but they grabbed a bonus point themselves, and denied their hosts one they probably deserved.
The victory by the Bulls, which overturned last year's Currie Cup final, completed a hat-trick of wins for the visiting teams on opening day of the new Super 14.
Earlier the Bulls had hit back after conceding a try in the second minute to right wing Eddie Fredericks. And it was that man Bryan Habana, who scored 12 tries in as many matches for the Springboks in 2005, who played a key role in two of the Bulls' three first-half touchdowns.
Habana's quick hands from second phase possession after a fine break by scrumhalf Fourie du Preez helped Johan Roets to the line after 30 minutes.
Six minutes later he launched a fierce tackle on Cheetahs centre Barry Goodes, dislodging the ball into the hands of JP Nel. Nel and flyhalf Derick Hougaard combined over the next 50 metres before centre Wynand Olivier dashed in from the 22.
The score was the Bulls' third try in the first half after wing Akona Ndungane had opened the account just inside the first quarter when he went over in the right hand corner from a long skip pass by Johan Wasserman.
As usual the Bulls relied on that big, rumbling pack of theirs and the opportunism of Habana, but the Cheetahs showed they're going to be a competitive unit this season and on other days are going to get the rub of the green.
The match did deteriorate a little in the second spell, perhaps as the stakes became evident, but for a first-up effort it wasn't the worst and both sides will probably take some heart out of a fairly willing encounter.
"I don't think we played that well but we showed a lot of character considering the number of injuries we had," said Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer afterwards.
"We stuck to our game plan in a very tactical game but we did well to come and beat the Currie Cup champion on their home ground."
Cheetahs 18: Eddie Fredericks, Ronnie Cooke tries; Willem De Waal 2 pen con.
Bulls 30: Akona Ndungane, Johan Roets, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana tries; Derick Hougaard 2 pen 2 con. Ht: 10-17.
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The ACT Brumbies piled on 17 unanswered points in the last quarter to defeat Super 14 newcomers the Western Force 25-10 on the opening day of the 2006 championship at Perth's Subiaco Oval on Friday.
The Force threatened a major upset when they led 10-8 midway through the second half after former Brumbies forward Scott Fava crashed over for his team's only try.
But the Brumbies, the only Australian team to win the old Super 12, regained their composure with Joel Wilson and Matt Giteau crossing for late tries to seal a comfortable victory.
"It wasn't too pretty but we're happy to get the points," Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock said.
"Full credit to the Force, they're going to be a very competitive team this season."
Perth-based Western Force were permitted to join the southern hemisphere's annual regional competition this year to give Australia a fourth franchise along with the Brumbies, the New South Wales Waratahs and the Queensland Reds.
"For the first 60 minutes, the boys really dug in and got in their faces," Force skipper Nathan Sharpe said.
"There was a bit of experience there at the end, we made a few mistakes and the Brumbies capitalised on that."
The Brumbies, packed with Wallaby internationals, led 8-3 at halftime after lock Mark Chisholm scored the only try of the opening period while Mortlock and Force flyhalf Scott Daruda traded penalties.
The Force went ahead six minutes after the re-start when their impressive scrumhalf Matt Henjak offloaded for No 8t Fava to dive over and Daruda coverted.
The home team held the lead until the 58th minute when man of the match George Smith recycled a turnover for replacement back Wilson to score in the left corner off the next phase.
Mortlock converted and four minutes later, the Brumbies were in again, Giteau sprinting through a hole in the defence to cross untouched and put the result beyond doubt.
The Brumbies travel to South Africa next weekend to play the Bulls in Pretoria while the Force head east to New Zealand to tackle the Hurricanes in New Plymouth.
Brumbies 25: Mark Chisholm, Joel Wilson, Matt Giteau tries; Stirling Mortlock 2 con, 2 pen.
Western Force 10: Scott Fava try; Scott Daruda con, pen.
HT: 8-3
sauce- www.xtra.co.nz
