Outstanding defence wasn't enough to save the Western Force's Super 14 season tonight as the Hurricanes extinguished their flickering semi-final hopes with a 21-10 victory in Wellington.
Boosting their own playoff prospects, the Hurricanes climbed above the NSW Waratahs into second place on the ladder with their eighth win of the season.
But the Force can start planning for 2009 following their sixth defeat this campaign.
Significantly for Australian rugby fans, though, the gallant Force did the Waratahs a big favour by preventing the Hurricanes from nabbing a bonus point.
The Waratahs, three competition points shy of the Hurricanes with a game in hand, can regain outright second spot and the inside running for a home semi-final if they beat the Stormers in Cape Town early Sunday morning AEST.
Success over the Stormers and then the Queensland Reds in Brisbane in the final round next weekend, plus one bonus point from either match, would guarantee the Waratahs an all-important top-two finish.
defeat to a Hurricanes outfit seemingly assured of a top four spot.
Despite restricting the Hurricanes - who enjoyed a staggering 82 per cent of territory - to two tries, Force captain Nathan Sharpe refused to draw consolation in his side's brave defensive effort.
Instead, the Wallabies lock, who once again led from the front, said the Force's loss - and, with it, a likely finish in the bottom half of table this season - was another lesson in how far his side have to go to emulate the lofty position of Colin Cooper's Hurricanes.
"Our intensity was good, but against the Hurricanes you have got to tackle low, especially on a wet night like tonight," Sharpe said.
"The first up hits were good but they don't stick and they get over the advantage line too easily.
"It was a great learning experience for our younger guys, but we never had much chance to play some rugby.
"If we want to be contenders in the Super 14 game we have got to be able to win in those conditions away from home - we have got a bit to do from that game."
Bereft of many first-choice players, and the ball for long periods, the Force repelled the Hurricanes for long enough periods to keep the home side to one try in each half.
The tries to Andrew Hore and Hosea Gear, as well as four goals to Piri Weepu, saw the Hurricanes climb above the NSW Waratahs into second place on the ladder.
In torrential conditions, the ball retention by the Hurricanes gave them ample opportunities, but Force grit repeatedly held them up inches short.
A succession of goal-line raids were repelled by the Force, with a similar pattern unfolding in the second half - until a yellow card to David Pocock further stressed the visitor's desperate defence.
Hurricanes skipper Rodney So'oialo praised the Force's defensive efforts, while hinting they may live to regret not capitalising on their own attacking chances.
"We were still trying to get the bonus point there, but the Force really defended quite well, and made it very hard for us," So'oialo said.
"When we got some points ahead of the Force we tried to get the extra bonus point, but unfortunately we couldn't."
The Force now return home to take on the Brumbies at Subiaco in their last game of an ultimately disappointing season which started so promisingly with four wins from their opening six matches.
"We are looking forward to getting home and getting stuck into them," Sharpe said.
