Hurricanes stay in touch with scrappy win

The five tries to one win sees them close the gap on the table-topping Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders (all on 37 points) to just one point.

However, the farcical conference system means they remain rooted in seventh place – with the other conference leaders the Brumbies (29 points), Stormers (29 points) and Lions (27 points) all gifted positions ahead of them.

It was a scrappy performance, but a step up from last week's disaster in Durban – where they suffered a humiliating loss and subsequently had five players stood down for this week's match because they broke team curfew.

Jason Woodward and Wes Goosen celebrated their promotion with three tries as the Hurricanes turned a week to forget into a match to remember.

Woodward, with two tries, and South African-born Goosen were drafted in to replace All Black wings Cory Jane and Julian Savea who were among five Hurricanes dropped for breaking a team curfew.

Dane Coles and Ngani Laumape also scored.

Beauden Barrett, having a nightmare match with the boot, only landed two conversions, while the Reds points came from a try to Chris Feauai-Sautia and three penalties by Ayumu Goromaru.

With a third of the 'Canes expected run-on side axed because of the misdemeanour, it took the revamped unit most of the first half to settle into the pace of the game.

But once the five replacements hit their straps, scrum-half TJ Perenara said they laid the groundwork for the win.

"Wes Goosen out on the wing opened us up with a try and his impact out there was awesome," Perenara said.

"Woodie stepping up for us and the boys in the forward pack they really gave us the impact we needed."

Victor Vito and Ardie Savea were among the infamous five and their absence was initially telling at the breakdown where the Reds had command.

But when the Hurricanes settled into their work they scored tries on either side of the half-time break and defended their lead for the remainder of the match.

After Goromaru, getting a rare start, put the Reds ahead 3-0 with an early penalty the Hurricanes struck back with Goosen's try when he latched on to well-weighted cross kick by Barrett.

But it was a rare foray into Reds territory in the first quarter and the Hurricanes were only spared conceding a try when Reds' centre Anthony Fainga'a dropped the ball with the line open in front of him.

The Reds were rewarded for their constant pressure with a second penalty by Japanese international Goromaru, before the Hurricanes regained the lead with Coles' try on half-time.

Reds flank Hendrik Tui was yellow-carded for pulling down a Hurricanes line-out maul with the 'Canes immediately repeating the move and at the second attempt Coles was driven over the line.

In a desperate start to the second spell, Goromaru landed a third penalty, Woodward scored for the Hurricanes when he toed a wayward pass by Jake McIntyre over the line and Feauai-Sautia replied with his try for the Reds.

After Laumape's try to put the 'Canes ahead 24-14 the Reds made one final effort to earn a bonus point with a late try only for Woodward to intercept a pass on his own line and run the length of the field for his second five-pointer.

Man of the match: Liam Gill is always good value for the Reds. Chris Feauai-Sautia also had a good showing for the Reds on the wing. Beauden Barrett had another performance the suggested he will be in the All Black selection frame, even though his goal-kicking needs work, while Brad Shields also got through a mountain of work. However, our award goes to Hurricanes wing Jason Woodward – who took his chance of a rare start after Cory Jane and four other players were stood down for partying a bit too hard last week.

The scorers:

For the Hurricanes:

Tries: Goosen, Coles, Woodward 2, Laumape

Cons: Barrett 2

For the Reds:

Try: Feauai-Sautia

Pens: Goromaru 3

Yellow card: Hendrik Tui (Reds, 40 – cynical foul, collapsing the maul), Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes, 80 – cynical foul, offside)

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Jason Woodward, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reg Goodes.

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Ben May, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 Willis Halaholo.

Reds: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Curtis Browning, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ben Matwijow, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 James Slipper (captain).

Replacements: 16 Matt Mafi, 17 Sef Fa'agase, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Michael Gunn, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Duncan Paia'aua, 23 Junior Laloifi.

Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Angus Mabey (New Zealand), Brett Johnson (New Zealand)

TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)