A 69th-minute try to All Black Ma'a Nonu took the Hurricanes to a narrow win over the Blues in Hastings last night.
Nonu's try between the posts levelled the score at 24-all and his fellow international, reserve halfback Piri Weepu, kicked the conversion for a 26-24 victory.
The Blues had
done well to recover from a 19-0 deficit 15 minutes into the match.
The game, played in front of 7500 fans in ideal conditions, was just five minutes old when Hurricanes' starting halfback Isaac Boss took advantage of some sloppy Blues' defence to score near the posts and give first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth an easy conversion.
Gopperth, the Hurricanes player of the night, made a clever burst six minutes later to send winger Lome Fa'atau away for the first of his two tries.
Easily the pick of the wingers, Fa'atau scored again four minutes later after winning the chase to a kick-ahead from Gopperth, who added the conversion.
Second five-eighth Luke McAlister opened the Blues' account with a try in the 21st minute.
McAlister added the conversion to end the first-half scoring.
The introduction of star forwards Keven Mealamu, Ali Williams and Xavier Rush gave the Blues more muscle up front and the visitors dominated the third quarter.
All Black second five-eighth Sam Tuitupou, another to shine after being introduced at halftime, scored in the 51st minute after continuous pressure from his forwards.
Tuitupou sparked a counter-attack from the Blues' goal-line which led to a try three minutes later from winger Rudi Wulf.
Lavea's conversion took the score to 19-19.
More Blues forward pressure resulted in Rush scoring in the 62nd minute.
Along with Gopperth and Fa'atau, lock Paul Tito and loose forwards Scott and Thomas Waldrom had memorable games for the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes 26 (L. Fa'atau 2, I. Boss, Ma'a Nonu tries, J. Gopperth 2 con, P. Weepu con) Blues 24 (L. McAlister, R. Wulf, S. Tuitupou, X. Rush tries, McAlister con, Tasesa Lavea con). HT: 19-7.
