Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Canterbury vs Hawkes Bay Air NZ Cup Semi Final

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Canterbury vs Hawkes Bay Air NZ Cup Semi Final

Canterbury will host the Air New Zealand Cup Final after they comfortably beat Hawkes Bay 20-3 in the Semi last weekend in Christchurch.

The game started with what would have been one of the fastest tries ever, as Sean Maitland fed the ball inside after some great hands, but it was not to be unfortunately.

It didn't take them long to make up for it though, scoring after 8 minutes through impressive lock Sam Whitelock. A Michael Paterson charge down then allowed Isaac Ross to dive over for an opportunist try.

Hawkes Bay prop Sona Taumalolo was lucky to stay on the park after a 'dip' tackle went unpunished by referee Jonathan White. A few years back it probably would have been a good call, but these days rules are rules and you can't lift a player like that any more.

A Clint Newlands turnover allowed Canterbury to shirt it wide to speedster Maitland once again, who calmly fed the the supporting Stephen Brett for an excellent try which put them out of sight.

Canterbury will play Wellington in the final on Saturday night, after they beat Southland in the other semi.

"The boys are really excited about the challenge ahead. It will be difficult because Wellington are a very good side but we are determined to give it everything," said head coach Rob Penney

"This match should be an absolute cracker. Both teams like to run the ball so there will be no shortage of excitement. We hope to see a big crowd there to add to what will be a great atmosphere," he added.

Regarding the crowd, the AMI Stadium is currently undergoing construction ahead of the 2011 World Cup. Unfortunately it doesn't look great on TV, but the crowd on the near side will be packed I'm sure.

Time: 04:45

I win, FIRST! YES!!!!! YEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!

By Delo, at November 05, 2009 10:08 am
YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

By Delo, at November 05, 2009 10:08 am
In my country, stadiums that empty are for kids games or girls. So sad

By Anonymous, at November 05, 2009 10:54 am
anon is right, the camera is showing a construction site at the beginning but later in the video u can see there is really no-one there and that is canterbury vs hawkes bay playin in the semifinal

By sebastian, at November 05, 2009 11:03 am
Sean Maitland is seriously quick.. doesnt look it, but got some great strides on him.

Disappointing match, but the final should be good.

By FrankyH, at November 05, 2009 11:06 am
What is happening to Kiwi rugby? First they get thrashed by South Africa not once, not twice, but three times and now they can't even come close to selling out an Air NZ Cup semi final. The World Cup is going to be a disaster...

By Robin_S, at November 05, 2009 11:09 am
I know that big stand was under construction, but the views of the other stands showed that they were nowhere near full either.

By Maximus, at November 05, 2009 1:06 pm
Oh boy... RWC 2011 will be a disaster.. had the IRB awatded it to Japan and we would have a cracker of a world cup, but no, give it to the kiwis and lets see if they can start to play real rugby with some extra pressure.

By Joost, at November 05, 2009 2:33 pm
it's difficult to fill out big stadiums for club games in nz - the whole country has a population similar to Cape Town.
The total population of christchurch is about 350,000 and the AMI seats well over 40,000. it is fanciful to suggest that 20-25% of the adult, mobile population would go to a club game on a friday night. the attendance was about 8000 people which isn't that bad going for what was always a foregone conclusion.
The All Blacks always fill it... and the world cup will too!

By felix, at November 05, 2009 2:51 pm
Canterbury has some problems with attendance. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/3032632/Nervous-wait-for-officials-as-apathy-hinders-ticket-sales

Other clubs like Hawkes Bay are going fine though. Good try, but saying the world cup is going to be a disaster is anti NZ Stephen Jones talk.

The Stadiums will be busier when there are less teams in the comp and once the schedule is changed around a bit of course.

By Mikey Mike, at November 05, 2009 2:58 pm
Theres so much talent in Canterbury. The whole country has a good crop of players comig through. Sam Whitelock and Ross are awesome, very dynamic lock.

By Mikey Mike, at November 05, 2009 3:01 pm
Ross's try looked like a forward pass.

I would have liked to see Japan host the RWC, too bad the IRB can't see beyond the traditional rugby naitons.

By Canadian Content, at November 05, 2009 5:28 pm
I've never seen such an empty stadium for a semi-final, that's shoking. What's wrong with rugby in NZ??? Wasn't it supposed to be the first sport of the country??? It's unreal, i really can't understand.

By rodofle, at November 05, 2009 5:38 pm
just a suggestion, people didn't think there was anywhere to watch? stupid mistake if thats true but only a suggestion.

By Anonymous, at November 05, 2009 8:10 pm
Too much rugby in NZ, tiny popualtion.
There's only 4 million in the whoel country, and they've got a multi-tiered club competition, with dozens of pro and semi-pro clubs, they've got five S14 teams and of course the All Blacks. They play now virtually all-year round, so there's no break.
People will only pay to go see so much rugby.
Same in South Africa, they've got the multi-tiered Currie Cup, the S14 and the Boks.
It explains (along with the ridiculously high ticket prices) why there were such small crowds on the Lions tour.

By Jon, at November 05, 2009 11:18 pm
Sean Maitland has wheels, never knew it... but hes awsome!
Black Jersy some day when they realise Sivi is part retarded!

By Anonymous, at November 05, 2009 11:30 pm
Has anyone seen the ticket prices to these games??? RIPOFF BASTARDS!!!!

By Niceguy, at November 06, 2009 4:44 am