Rugby: Hurricanes show grit to go with style

TJ Perenara of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty

Hurricanes: 20
Highlanders: 13

A match which promised much in terms of attack was instead settled by grit and sheer bloody-mindedness, the Hurricanes preserving their unbeaten record for the season tonight and enhancing their title credentials in the process.

This was a slow-burner of a game, the Highlanders living off scraps of possession and territory in the second half, but hanging in there, as they do, and they put enormous pressure on the visitors under the Dunedin roof. It began with a series of mistakes, with Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith beset by nerves, and finished with all-out attack and it was the Hurricanes on the right side of the ledger at a place which has become difficult for visiting teams to win at.

It also finished in controversy, the Highlanders were over for a try in the final minute which could have drawn the match, but referee Ben O'Keeffe had already called for a forward pass, which looked marginal.

It left the Highlanders' players and supporters extremely disappointed. The Hurricanes' fans, meanwhile, will be hoping that this is their year and at the moment their team aren't doing much to disabuse them of that.

Ben Smith was again the architect for the Highlanders' inevitable comeback after they beat the odds to claw their way back from the death against the Chiefs and Waratahs, but he was also at fault for the disallowing of a Highlanders' try - his cleanout of Brad Shields on the Hurricanes' line deemed illegal.

With All Blacks such as Julian Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ma'a Nonu and Cory Jane in the Hurricanes' backline, along with the Highlanders' liking for an open game, it seemed a try-fest was in the offing, but rather than an outside back it was prop Reggie Goodes who went over from close for the first try - but not until well into the second half.

Despite the setback the Highlanders were in it until the final nine minutes until halfback Perenara went over for a converted try after a Julian Savea charge. It sealed it for the Hurricanes, but it was perhaps tough on the Highlanders.

It looked as if they had discovered the key to defeating the Hurricanes - a totally committed defensive effort led by wing Patrick Osborne who charged into contact like a man possessed. Their forwards were also extremely good in defending around the ruck. Once again they proved they won't be pushovers this season.

It meant breaks were kept to a minimum, despite the Hurricanes' firepower, but gradually men such as Shields and Victor Vito began making inroads and in Nonu the Hurricanes had a defensive powerhouse in the final desperate minutes.

Lima Sopoaga's try at the death, which came just after Julian Savea was sinbinned for offside, was a deserved consolation.

Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith said afterwards: "It was tough, we knew it was going to be. It just came down to a few moments."

It's five from five for the Hurricanes, who, Smith said, were looking to prove a few people wrong this season after being known as perennial under-achievers. Their only sour note of the night was the arm injury to flanker Ardie Savea, who was taken to hospital.

Hurricanes: 20 (Reggie Goodes, TJ Perenara tries; Beauden Barrett 3 pens, con)
Highlanders: 13 (Lima Sopoaga try; 2 pens, con)
HT: 3-3

Poor start: All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith endured an awful start; kicking out on the full twice in the first three minutes and generally looking as if he was trying far too hard against rival TJ Perenara. He improved as the game went on.

Good finish: Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa's break late in the match had home fans on the edge of their seats, but their team couldn't quite do it. Ref O'Keefe's decision to call a forward pass and rule out a try didn't go down well.