Rugby: Canes turn on style in memory of Collins

AGONY AND ECSTASY: Blade Thomson celebrates his try while Ryan Tongia deals with the pain barrier. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

A FITTING tribute for one of the Hurricanes greats ... the late Jerry Collins.

That is the best way to sum up this Hurricanes victory at Napier's McLean Park last night.

Former All Black Collins, who played 85 games for the Canes from 2001-08, and his wife, Alana, were killed in a vehicle accident in France earlier yesterday.

While there was little of the hard-nosed forward play Collins was known for from both teams, he would have been proud of the eight-tries-to-three romp.

Highlanders first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga opened the scoring with a dropped goal in the first minute. Three minutes later he was the villain as he gifted Marshall an easy penalty after throwing the ball away when he had taken it over the touchline.

Another penalty from Marshall when Magpies and Highlanders loosie Gareth Evans was sinbinned for a professional foul had the hosts ahead 6-3.

In-form Hurricanes winger Nehe Milner-Skudder displayed his class with a a break and put blindside flanker Blade Thomson away for his 19th-minute try.

Five minutes later and while Evans was still on the sideline, Marshall beat six defenders on the way to the tryline. He added the conversion and the hosts led 18-3.

Television match official Aaron Paterson had input before Canes halfback TJ Perenara was awarded his try in the 26th minute.

A brief Highlanders fightback saw Magpies winger Ryan Tongia score in the 34th minute and Sopoaga two minutes later.

All Black hooker Dane Coles, who earlier in the day signed on until 2019 with Hurricanes and Wellington rugby, celebrated the occasion with a try just before halftime, which Marshall converted to have the home side in front 30-13.

The second half was only two minutes old when All Black winger Julian Savea burst over for his try for the Canes. Marshall converted.

Two minutes later the Highlanders closed the gap when Sopoaga converted a try by fullback Marty Banks.

Perenara scored his second try in the 49th minute and Marshall was again on target with the conversion and the Canes led 44-20.

The biggest cheer of the night came when All Black second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu, a late change to the matchday 23, took the field with 22 minutes to go. He scored the final two tries, the second of which was converted by Marshall.

Openside flanker Ardie Savea, Coles and Milner-Skudder were prominent among the Canes heroes. Evans was the Highlanders best player.

Canes captain Conrad Smith said there was still plenty of work to be done for his troops who secured New Zealand conference honours with the victory.

Magpies lock Mark Abbott got the final 10 minutes of the match for the Canes and was again powerful and accurate.

I copped a bit of flak from spectators for only predicting an 11-point win for the Canes. That prediction was made before Collins' death.