Hurricanes score a second try
That was a bit too easy for the Canes.
They’ve scored a second try to Fehi Fineanganofo after Waratahs fullback Andrew Kellaway missed a one-on-one tackle out wide on Peter Lakai.
The Tahs defence has started to wilt a bit.
21 mins: Hurricanes 12 Waratahs 7
Waratahs score first try, the Canes respond … and a worrying Suaalii update
The Waratahs have scored the first try of the night through Tristan Reilly, via a smart pick-and-go near the line.
The Tahs managed to work their way up the field, via a nice run and chip-chase from Max Jorgensen, and after pounding the Canes line over the course of a few minutes, the Kiwis cracked.
But in typical Tahs fashion, they dropped the ball from the re-start, and the Canes took advantage of the field position and created numbers on the left edge for a Asafo Aumua try.
The worrying news is there has been an update from the Waratahs sheds on Suaalii – he has a hamstring injury, not an ankle injury.
17 mins: Waratahs 7 Hurricanes 5
Powerful defence from Waratahs to start
The Waratahs’ defence has turned up tonight, and it was needed, after the Tahs turned the ball over repeatedly in the opening 10 minutes and allowed the Hurricanes to camp in their territory.
But the rush defence of the Waratahs, with good strength in contact, repelled the Kiwis and denied them an early try.
Time for a bit of Christian Cullen
Can’t let a Hurricanes game in Sydney go past without running THAT try from Christian Cullen in 1996. It was a rip-snorter, but Max Jorgensen has been doing his best to match it recently.
Our big mate Sean Maloney wrote a nice column about Cully’s solo try this week, too.
Who is George Poolman?
George Poolman has been thrust into hotseat after that late injury to JAS.
It will be his debut for the Waratahs but Poolman is no rookie.
The 23-year-old former Junior Wallabies player came through Sydney Uni and spent three seasons at the Western Force. Poolman played 33 games for the Force, mostly off the bench, and also as a winger.
He returned home to Sydney this year to take up a spot with the Waratahs.
Big shoes for the young man tonight.
Here are all the details: Teams, times, officials
Here are the teams for tonight’s action. Suaalii’s scratching is the only late change.
The selection calls of note this were, for the Waratahs, the returns of Wallabies Andrew Kellaway and Folau Faingaa to the starting side, at fullback and hooker respectively. James Hendren had a leg niggle and coach Dan McKellar elected to treat the young thoroughbred with caution. An injury to Harry Potter saw Triston Reilly named on the wing.
Leafi Talataina is making his starting debut at no.6, with Clem Halaholo benched. And young Sid Harvey is in line for his debut from the bench.
For the Canes, the return from injury of outstanding flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi is the headline change.
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Folau Faingaa, Daniel Botha, Matt Philip (c), Miles Amatosero, Leafi Talataina, Charlie Gamble, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Lawson Creighton, Max Jorgensen, Joey Walton, George Poolman, Triston Reilly, Andrew Kellaway
Replacements: Ioane Moananu, Isaac Kailea, Siosifa Amone, Angus Blyth, Clem Halaholo, Teddy Wilson, Jack Debreczeni, Sid Harvey
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, Warner Dearns, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Callum Harkin, Fehi Fineanganofo, Jordie Barrett (co-c), Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan, Josh Moorby
Replacements: Jacob Devery, Siale Lauaki, Tevita Mafileo, Brad Shields, Brayden Iose, Ereatara Enari, Lucas Cashmore, Jone Rova
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore
TMO: James Leckie
Welcome to jungle … and we have a star casualty already
By Iain Payten
G’day and welcome to our live blog of the Waratahs clash with the Hurricanes, coming at you from a very humid and sticky Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
The big news is we have just seen Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii limp off the field with a ankle injury sustained in the warm-up. He has been scratched and George Poolman will start at no.13.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been ruled out of the game at Allianz Stadium.Credit: Getty Images
The million-dollar man was doing run throughs in the warm-up on the eastern side of the field when he went down, and after being attended to by a physio, Suaalii limped off gingerly. The Tahs will be hoping his injury is not a long-term one.
It’s not raining (yet, there are storms forecast) but this could be Fiji. The BOM tells me humidity is at 84%.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii being helped off the field.Credit: SMH
The humidity may suit the Hurricanes in this fixture, given they played in Fiji last weekend. They went down 25-20 against the Drua on an absolute leg-sapper of a muddy deck at Lautoka; it looked brutal. There are numbers around about how your chances of winning a week after you play in Fiji is much reduced, and that’s no shock. The Canes have had a six-day turnaround, too.
The Waratahs had the bye last weekend after going 2-0 in their opening two games, both at home. They beat the Reds and the Drua, and looked pretty good. But the Canes are different gravy, and they’ve proved to be something of a bogey teams for the Tahs. They’ve beaten NSW in nine straight games since 2016. Last year they put 50 on the Tahs in Wellington.
That 2016 game was the last time the Canes have played at Allianz Stadium, though, or on this footprint at least. And the Waratahs have made this joint a bit of fortress in the last two years: they’ve won 7 from 9 at home.
Who will get the job done tonight? If the Tahs rush defence can stifle the Canes, and force some mistakes in the sweaty conditions, they have a chance.
Who do you like?
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
