Hurricanes edge Blues in New Zealand thriller
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: Captain Ardie Savea has scored a sensational match-winning try in the final minute to lift the Hurricanes to a 33-32 win over the Blues in their Super Rugby Pacific clash in Dunedin.
The Hurricanes trailed 32-14 in the 71st minute but came storming home with two late tries to secure their first win of the season after an opening-round loss to the Crusaders.
First winger Salesi Rayasi completed a hat-trick of tries by touching down in the left-hand corner with nine minutes remaining to move the Hurricanes to within six points of the Blues.
Then centre Bailyn Sullivan, who was the Hurricanes’ best player, made a brilliant outside break and timed his pass to Savea who sprinted down the right touch, cut infield and pushed off two defenders to score under the posts.
The conversion clinched the Hurricanes’ win but still there was drama.
The Blues disputed the conversion, claiming it hadn’t gone between the posts and several replays were needed before the Hurricanes’ win was confirmed.
“I’m lost for words, lost for words,” a breathless Savea said. “I’m just proud of the boys. We had about eight minutes to go and we were down by 10 or 12 and the messages just were to do our next job and do it with intent.”
For the Blues, hooker Kurt Eklund scored two tries and winger Caleb Clark added another in the first half when they were dominant.
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Rayasi 3, Goosen, Savea.
Cons: Barrett 2, Love 2
For Blues:
Tries: Eklund 2, Clarke, Darry
Cons: Plummer 3
Pen: Plummer
Teams:
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Adrian Choat, 6 Tom Robinson (captain), 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Ofa Tuungafasi, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Stephen Perofeta, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Justin Sangster, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Ben May, 19 Devan Flanders, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ruben Love, 23 Peter Umaga-Jensen.
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Marcus Playle
TMO: Chris Hart
