Magnolias in June

These are strange times indeed.  Cricket in Florida, Nadal out of Wimbledon, magnolias are flowering in Auckland and the Hurricanes, despite getting totally turffed over in the set pieces, somehow manages a win in Christchurch.

It all started with John Campbell. As per normal, he was talking up the Hurricanes chances before a trip to a city where Wellington teams are famously useless.

1983 shield challenge; Murray Davie breaking Murray Pearce’s jaw for all to hear and see.  Penalty went the other way. History etc..

1995. Billy Cubuvati fries lamb shanks as some form of hyped up symbolism.  He spent the following Sunday afternoon getting twisted to bits as the hosts retained the shield by 50 points.

The Steve Walsh 2001 shield challenge.

The Super final in the smog/fog.

And too many other cuts of pain to remember.

Wellington doesn’t win in Christchurch; it’s a well known fact.

So Campbell was told to stop raising hopes of the faithful, and take pics of the garden.  He duly obliged.

And so to the game itself. 

The home town went out to an early lead before Conrad Smith scored a try due to some outrageous piece of lazy running.  Yet it wasn’t picked up. Wellington side gets dodgy try in Christchurch.  Strange days indeed.

Normal transmission resumed. Despite whatever hooker the Hurricanes turned up with, the throws to the lineouts were wonky.  And the scrum was worse.

Somehow, the Canes were in front with 5 to go.  That’s nothing to worry about for the Crusaders; McCaw finally earned a penalty.  It was missed.

Extra time. Same thing.  Same result.

Magnolias in June.  Strange Days

The Hurricanes have a new mascot.