It was billed as a crucial match and it turned out to be a very important outcome for both teams, as the Hurricanes blew the Blues off the park with a 45-27 win in their Super 14 showdown in Wellington on Friday.

The result left the Hurricanes firmly entrenched at the top of the standings and the Blues perilously clinging on to fifth place and needing other results to go their way in the last two weeks, with a fading dream of a spot in the play-offs.

The game - an incredible 80 minutes of action-packed rugby - produced a couple of records for the 'Canes.

The 45 points scored by the home team surpassed the 42 they got in 1997 in a 42-45 loss. But the 18-point victory margin matched their highest ever win over the Blues - with a 37-19 win in 2006 also having produced an 18-point win.

The Blues were intent on attacking at all times, but their execution wasn't clinical enough. The high number of missed tackles also didn't aid their cause.

While the Blues had plenty of opportunities and showed they can score from anywhere, they too often turned over ball at the breakdown and the Hurricanes - as they have done very well in recent weeks - made the opposition pay for their erroneous ways.

And the home team was just so much more physical at the breakdown and at winning the collision areas, despite the Blues enjoying plenty of possession.

The Blues opened their account inside the first two minutes, when flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth slotted a penalty, after Hurricanes centre Ma'a Nonu went offside in midfield.

But the Hurricanes' riposte was swift and clinical. From the first set piece of the game, a line-out just outside the Blues 22, outside centre Conrad Smith cut back against the grain of a drifting defence and easily beast the half-hearted attempts by the Blues to score the first try. Willie Ripia added the extras for a 7-3 lead.

Gopperth had a chance in the 11th minute to narrow the gap to just one point, but his penalty shot drifted just wide of the upright.

The Hurricanes were the next to score, as they again exploited the Blues porous defensive lines - with Ripia putting David Smit into space, before he off-loaded to Scott Waldrom for the second try. Ripia's conversion made it 14-3.

And a turnover minutes later - with Tamati Ellison collecting his own kick-'n-chase - gave the Hurricanes their third try. With the Blues' All Black lock Ali Williams limping off with a serious-looking ankle injury, Ripia made it 21-0 with the conversion.

The Blues finally managed to temporary stop the haemorrhage of points with a try of their own - the fourth of the game inside the first quarter - as Joe Rokocoko scored his team's first try. The conversion was wide.

But the Blues' leaky defence continued to cough up tries at regular intervals, as the Hurricanes' high-paced game caught the visitors cold.

Converted tries by Ma'a Nonu, a strong bust up midfield, and Ellis, his second, saw the 'Canes race clear - 35-8 inside a half-an-hour.

The Blues did eventually find their way over the line, as they managed to string some phases together and Anthony Tuitavake went over in the right corner by busting through a desperate tackle. The conversion was wide, but at 13-35 there was at least some first-half consolation.

And that is how it stayed till half-time.

The Blues continued their comeback after the break, with Rene Ranger scoring his team's third try within two minutes of the restart - as the Blues managed hold onto the ball. Following a few solid phases Isaia Toeava broke the line and he found Ranger on the outside. Gopperth added the extras to narrow the gap to 20-35 and gave the Blues some hope.

But the comeback was short-lived, as Nonu scored his second and his team's sixth - again exploiting the Blues' unwillingness to commit to the tackle. The call went to the TMO, but he ruled that Nonu had touched the base of the upright and the ground at the same time with the ball. Gopperth's conversion - which made it 42-20 - meant the Blues were left with a huge mountain to climb in the last quarter.

All that was left now was to see if the Blues could get a bonus point for four tries and they certainly chased that extra score.

The Hurricanes were reduced to 14 men with just over four minutes on the clock remaining, when replacement lock Api Naikatini was yellow carded for repeated infringements at the breakdown by the home team.

But you had the feeling that the 'Canes had already shut up shop and wanted to slow down the game as much as possible, with all five log points already in the bag.

However, the Blues did eventually get the bonus-point - for a fourth try - that kept them alive in the competition, as replacement Tom McCartney scored with under a minute left on the clock. Gopperth added the conversion for a final score of 45-27.

Man of the match: Rene Ranger was always a danger on attack and certainly asked plenty of questions of the Hurricanes defence. Players like Jerome Kaino, Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu tried bravely in a lost cause. But the real heroes were in the yellow-and-black of the Hurricanes. Ma'a Nonu was a real menace in midfield, Willie Ripia was the general that directed the troops, Conrad Smith was a class act as well and Tamati Ellison made a huge contribution with his incisive running. However, our award goes to Hurricanes flank Scott Waldrom for his allround brilliant performance - both at the breakdown and on defence.

The scorers:

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Smith, Waldrom, Ellison 2, Nonu 2
Cons: Ripia 6
Pens: Ripia

For the Blues:
Tries: Rokocoko, Tuitavake, Ranger
Cons: Gopperth
Pens: Gopperth

Yellow card: Api Naikatini (Hurricanes, 76 - repeated infringements)

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Tamati Ellison, 14 Zac Guildford, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 David Smith, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Api Naikatini, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Jason Kawau, 22 Robert Fruean.

Blues: 15 Rudi Wulf, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Isaia Toeava, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Tom Chamberlain, 6 Kurtis Haiu, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Jay Williams, 3 Tevita Mailau, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Dean Budd, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Paul Williams.

365

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