Rugby: Luck helps seal Manawatu win

Jayden Hayward of Taranaki celebrates his try. Photo / Getty Images

Manawatu 15 Taranaki 10

Beauden Barrett is regarded as one of the coming men at first five-eighths in a land short of viable options behind Dan Carter, and his clash with All Black Aaron Cruden was one of the vital match-ups in this cross-border championship-premiership clash.

Barrett maybe won on points in the first half - although that was perhaps mostly due to having the best of the wind that blew throughout this match and to a Taranaki pack which had the edge, with hard workers like Craig Clarke, James Broadhurst and Mahonri Schwalger prominent, in the contact phases in that period. It was also due to Manawatu failing to take advantage of the persistent strong breeze, leading only 8-7 at halftime.

But they played bravely in the second half, putting Taranaki under some real pressure by attacking them strongly at the breakdown as Taranaki perhaps mentally rested on their laurels with the wind at their backs.

Cruden didn't put a foot wrong in the second half and it was his corner post, into-the-wind conversion that sealed the game for his team - a boost for a player whose clutch kicking has been questioned more than once.

Barrett, like Cruden, is far from the finished article but it is clear the young man has ability and possibly the skills to run a game at higher levels. He has a raking kick, runs and looks for space well and, again like Cruden, has fine timing of a pass, often putting the receiver in a hole or half-gap.

He produced a sterling offload as Taranaki swept down the right flank and, when the ball was recycled, his long pass set winger Frazier Climo on a good run down the left which ended with a try to second five-eighths Jayden Hayward.

But then the inconsistencies of the young and inexperienced showed themselves. Barrett's attempted low kick through was charged down and, from the rebound, tough-as-teak flanker Doug Tietjens thundered nearly 40m, shrugging off halfback Tyson Keats' tackle like he was a mosquito. Manawatu had some luck too.

Asaeli Tikoirotuma's winger's try in the corner came after some fine close-quarter, in-the-tackle passing - and if it seems churlish to point out that the last transfer was forward, it is nonetheless accurate.

For Manawatu, loose forwards James Oliver (a fine old Manawatu name), Tietjens and Nick Crosswell showed out with Tomasi Cama providing some penetration as did fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder.

Manawatu 15 (D. Tietjens, A. Tikoirotuma tries; A. Cruden con, pen), Taranaki 10 (J. Hayward try; B. Barrett con, pen). Halftime: 10-7.