VIDEO: Laumape scores four as Hurricanes snap losing streak
MATCH REPORT: Powerful “Mini Bus” Ngani Laumape drove the Hurricanes to a 42-24 Super Rugby win over the Blues on Saturday to all but ensure them a home quarterfinal.
Laumape, known as the “Mini Bus” alongside his former All Blacks teammate Julian “The Bus” Savea, scored four tries as the Hurricanes outscored the Blues six tries to three.
The bonus point win ended a three-match losing streak and lifted the ‘Canes five points clear of the Chiefs who retained a faint mathematical chance of hosting a quarterfinal when they held off a fast-finishing Brumbies to win their encounter 24-19.
The two New Zealand teams clash next week in the final round of the regular season which will determine which side finishes fourth.
Even if the Chiefs draw level with a bonus point win, the differential heavily favours the Hurricanes.
After falling to the Brumbies last week, the Hurricanes need to make an emphatic statement to display their play-off credentials and they did so in the form of the pocket-rocket Laumape.
The 1.71m, 103kg centre was near unstoppable when he took a head-on approach to the Blues defence.
For the first try he scattered three Blues defenders as he put Savea into space to score the opening try.
Laumape scored his first try with a side sidestep to beat Blues fullback Matt Duffie and his second came from another hard run as the Hurricanes raced to a 21-3 lead after 35 minutes.
Rieko Ioane scored either side of half-time, with Stephen Perofeta adding to extras for the Blues to close the gap to 21-17.
Beauden Barrett and Akira Ioane then traded tries before Laumape scored his third as a result of brute strength and the fourth from sheer pace in a 50-metre run to the line.
Man of the match: Ngani Laumape was a monster in the midfield and he scored four tries. He deserves the award.
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Savea, Laumape 4, B Barrett
Cons: J Barrett 6
For Blues:
Tries: R Ioane 2, A Ioane
Cons: Perofeta 3
Pen: Perofeta
Teams:
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Wes Goosen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Thomas Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Ben Lam.
Blues: 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Rieko Ioane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Augustine Pulu (captain), 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Matiaha Martin, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Matt Moulds, 1 Alex Hodgman
Replacements: 16 Ross Wright, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Ben Nee-Nee, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Thomas Faiane.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
AFP & @rugby365com
