By WYNNE GRAY
A depleted Hurricanes team earned tributes for their courageous Super 12 rugby victory against the Waratahs, but were victims of their own indiscipline which could prove costly as the New Zealand sides scramble for the playoffs.
Jonah Lomu's two-game ban for a dangerous tackle added to the Hurricanes' shabby record this season, in which they have had Tana Umaga, Kevin Yates and Lomu sent off.
While some of the Hurricanes' sinbinnings will be debated, they now have a reputation which means they will be even more heavily monitored, with players like Inoke Afeaki and captain Norm Hewitt a little edgy because they are on their final warnings.
Add in uncertainty about the health of the concussed Jason O'Halloran, compassionate parental leave for Umaga and Gordon Slater and the chance another father-to-be Filo Tiatia will also return from the tough road trip in South Africa, and the odds on the Hurricanes qualifying for the final four appear to be growing.
The Crusaders, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Blues (playing overnight in Durban) are all hunting the final four, but at least one will miss the cut because the Brumbies have already booked a semifinal place.
While the Hurricanes repaired their previous loss to the Brumbies with a gutsy 27-20 win over the Waratahs on Saturday night, their lack of discipline made them struggle. Their unruly play forced referee Andre Watson to hit them with four yellow cards, including the pair for Lomu which meant an automatic sending off.
Lomu was sinbinned in the second minute for a spear tackle and near the interval was marched after his second offence when he was ruled to have deliberately knocked on a pass as he defended his try line.
Hewitt was later binned for kneeing and No 8 Tiatia for a debatable professional foul as the Hurricanes battled fatigue and their indiscipline. Waratahs lock John Welborn was also given a yellow card in a match which Watson and his touch judges struggled to control.
After sinbinning Welborn for dangerous rucking, Watson later only warned the same player for a similar offence. He also allowed Yates and Dion Waller to get away with penalties for reckless rucking, did not act on a Jason Little punch and penalised Kupu Vanisi for a late tackle which looked legitimate.
A total of 48 yellow or red cards have been issued this Super 12 season. New Zealand teams have accrued 25 of those, with the Hurricanes accounting for 12.
Despite the discipline dramas, the Hurricanes have moved into the finals mix after the Highlanders and Reds both fell in South Africa. The beneficiaries were the Stormers and Cats, though they are still some way short of the leading quartet and would need some extraordinary results to make the semifinal group.
But the way the Hurricanes were able to win with 14 and even 13 players in the second half underscored the difficulty of predicting performance.
The Brumbies and Crusaders look as certain to make the four as anyone can be after this weekend, but both teams have significant injuries to deal with.
Crusaders first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens is rated an unlikely starter this week because of a rib injury.
The defending champions will not want to risk him if they can be sure of getting him back for the playoffs.
A significant series lead is a boon for the Brumbies, though their trip home is a local derby against the Reds before a final-round meeting with the Crusaders in Christchurch.
After losing regular locks David Giffin and Justin Harrison a few weeks ago, the Brumbies are now without Owen Finegan, who damaged knee ligaments, while captain Brett Robinson needs a fortnight's rest to fix a shoulder.
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