'Canes win tough battle down south

Fri 20th Mar

Outstanding character and commitment gave the Hurricanes a 20-13 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin tonight - their fifth consecutive victory of the 2015 Investec Super Rugby season.

The Hurricanes out-scored the Highlanders two tries to one, but it was scrambling second half defence that won them the match against a fiercely competitive southern side.

Holding a 13-6 lead midway through the second spell in what was an already frantic and willing match, the Highlanders lifted their tempo and went very close to breaking through on several occasions only to be thwarted by desperate Hurricanes defence.

The Hurricanes withstood this onslaught and instead it was them that broke through, second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu - moments after making a try saving tackle on Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa - making a clean break and helping to set up a try to halfback TJ Perenara.

First five-eighth Beauden Barrett converted Perenara's try, putting the Hurricanes ahead 20-6 with just over five minutes to play.

But the contest was far from over.

The Highlanders swung straight back onto attack. The Hurricanes lost wing Julian Savea to the sin-bin and Highlanders first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga dived through to score a converted try, closing the score up 20-13.

The home side then ran the ball back from the kick-off and cut through again, only to be called back for a forward pass, and the Hurricanes held on to win.

With their fifth win under their belts, creating their longest winning Super Rugby streak since 2003, the Hurricanes head home to host the Rebels in Wellington in a week's time.

The epic win came a cost, losing dynamic flanker Ardie Savea during the second half to a hand injury.

Earlier, the roof was on but it was raining knock-ons and penalties throughout a scrappy first half.

Both teams should have scored at least one try in the first half, instead all either could show from the opening 40 minutes was a penalty apiece, and it was 3-3 at halftime.

Highlanders pivot Sopoaga intercepted a pass which led to him scooting up field and then kicking the game's first points.

The story of the next 20 minutes for both teams was a succession of half-chances that could all have been converted into points. The Hurricanes went close to scoring tries on several occasions, while Highlanders centre Fekitoa did cross the chalk but support player Ben Smith was penalised for impeding a defender.

Barrett was successful with his second shot at goal, locking the contest up at 3-3.

Sopoaga missed consecutive penalties either side of halftime, before the Hurricanes once more created a wave of pressure using a series of one-off runners to punch up into the 22 and on towards the tryline. After several converted phases under the posts, loosehead prop Reggie Goodes lunged at the line and scored the game's opening try.

Barrett converted Goodes' try to put the Hurricanes ahead 10-3 after 50 minutes.

Barrett missed another penalty, before Perenara made a clean break towards the line from a scrum 30 metres out that was saved by his opposite Aaron Smith in the act of passing the ball over his head to his support player.

From a subsequent offence at a ruck, Barrett kicked his second penalty of the second half and it was now 13-3 heading towards the fourth quarter - as momentum shifted markedly in the Highlanders' favour.

Sopoaga pulled three points back with the Highlanders' next raid, making it 13-6 and the Hurricanes were asked to defend a massive wave of pressure, before breaking out and scoring the match-winning try.

Scores

Hurricanes 20 (TJ Perenara, Reggie Goodes tries; Beauden Barrett 2 pen, 2 con) beat the Highlanders 13 (Lima Sopoaga try; Sopoaga con, pen). HT: 3-3.

The scoring action (by minute):

6th: Lima Sopoaga penalty. Highlanders 3-0

36th: Beauden Barrett penalty. Hurricanes 3-3

49th: Reggie Goodes try. Hurricanes 8-3

50th: Beauden Barrett penalty. Hurricanes 10-3

59th: Beauden Barrett penalty. Hurricanes 13-3

62nd: Lima Sopoaga penalty. Hurricanes 13-6

73rd: TJ Perenara try. Hurricanes 18-6

74th: Beauden Barrett conversion. Hurricanes 20-6

77th: Lima Sopoaga try. Hurricanes 20-11

78th: Lima Sopoaga conversion. Hurricanes 20-13

The Hurricanes team that met the Highlanders was:

1. Reggie Goodes Replaced by Chris Eves, 65th minute
2. Motu Matu'u Replaced by Brayden Mitchell, 66th minute
3. Ben Franks Replaced by Ben may, 62nd minute
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. Blade Thomson
6. Brad Shields
7. Ardie Savea Replaced by Callum Gibbins, 50th minute
8. Victor Vito
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma'a Nonu Replaced by Rey Lee-Lo, 74th minute
13. Conrad Smith (c)
14. Cory Jane
15. Nehe Milner-Skudder Replaced by James Marshall, 62nd minute