Hurricanes 22 Highlanders 21
With the Hurricanes you get a bit of everything. Same again last night - some of it welcome, other parts disagreeable like the knee injury for reconditioned All Black Jason Eaton.
The experiment of using Eaton at blindside flanker in the absence of the injured Jerry Collins, lasted
all of four minutes before he damaged his left knee, was assisted from the ground and taken to hospital for x-rays.
No wonder the glum faces from the All Black selectors who were all at the park.
But they did have reason to evaluate the lively halfback contest between Piri Weepu and Jimmy Cowan and the form of other World Cup contenders like Nick Evans, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore and Clarke Dermody.
The selectors also watched Tama Umaga pick up a yellow card for a professional foul as he defused an early Highlanders counterattack. There was no sign of his probable All Black replacement as Conrad Smith did not play though Ma'a Nonu made some inroads from his limited chances after coming on as a substitute.
Maybe, just maybe you thought, the Hurricanes and Highlanders would deliver something. Wishful thinking did not count for anything as the sides mired mid-table produced mid-table mush.
There was the usual earnest play from the Highlanders, enterprise spoiled by inaccuracy from the Hurricanes and rugged defence from both sides.
An untidy first quarter was replaced with some smarter play when Evans skated past the rushing Hurricanes defence and was able to plant the ball at the base of the goalposts to convince the match officials he had scored. His snaking run also set up the late try for Toby Morland but the Highlanders five-eighths dragged his sideline conversion which would have won the match.
Jimmy Gopperth scored a superb individual try with his speed and repeat speculator kicks.
Wing Hosea Gear threaded his way for another try but for the most part this match was mediocre. Perhaps the Hurricanes are saving all their riches for Umaga's farewell next week against the Waratahs.
Hurricanes 22 (J. Gopperth, H. Gear, tries; P. Weepu 4 pen)
Highlanders 21 (N. Evans, T. Morland, tries; Evans 3 pen, con)
Halftime: 17-13
