Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso scored a brace of tries as the Hurricanes recorded a 41-15 win over the Highlanders in Wellington on Saturday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
After last weekend’s disappointing defeat to the Chiefs, the Hurricanes’ title defence is back on track. Although they led by only two points at half-time against the Highlanders, the reigning champs produced a dominant performance in the second stanza to come away with a comfortable victory.
Both teams came into the clash with a number of first-choice players absent due to injury, and it may well have been a contributing factor to an uninspiring opening quarter that saw just a solitary try to Canes loose forward Ardie Savea, who scored from the back of a driving lineout.
However, the Highlanders gradually established the ascendancy with some impressive phase play, which put the Canes’ defence under plenty of pressure. It first drew a penalty that was slotted by Fletcher Smith, while replacement Matt Faddes then ran a beautiful line to score a try that sent the visitors into an 8-5 lead.
On the balance of play, though, the Canes deservedly had the final say of the half, with a beautifully weighted cross-kick from Jordie Barrett setting up a try for Laumape to establish a tenuous 10-8 lead at the break.
The younger Barrett brother then stole the show early in the second half with an audacious behind-the-back pass that created a try for Matt Proctor, and suddenly opened up some breathing room.
Yet, just as it looked as if the Canes might begin to run away with it, a yellow card to TJ Perenara enabled the Highlanders to take advantage of a numbers advantage, with flanker Elliot Dixon going over to score and again reduce the deficit to two points.
That would prove to be only a temporary reprieve for the Highlanders, though, as Laumape scored a superb solo try, while Julian Savea then went over for his fourth five-pointer of the season to establish a 27-15 buffer in the 64th minute.
Before full-time, Vince Aso snatched a double to add the finishing touches to a resounding performance from the Canes.
Hurricanes – Tries: Ardie Savea, Ngani Laumape (2), Matt Proctor, Julian Savea, Vince Aso (2). Conversions: Beauden Barrett (2), Jordie Barrett.
Highlanders – Tries: Matt Faddes, Elliot Dixon. Conversion: Marty Banks. Penalty: Fletcher Smith.
Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (c), 1 Chris Eves.
Subs: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Ben May, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Otere Black, 23 Wes Goosen.
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Joe Wheeler, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Subs: 16 Sekonia Pole, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Guy Millar, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Matt Faddes.
Photo: Mark Tantrum/Getty Images
