Rugby: Joseph's show rumbles on

Hurricanes fullback Andre Taylor loses his way under a high ball against the Highlanders in Invercargill last night. Photo / Getty Images

Highlanders 13 Hurricanes 6
Numbers on the scoreboard do not always indicate the calibre of a match.

This duel in Invercargill was not top drawer but it had oodles of tension to keep fans intrigued until Vinny Munro called time.

Both teams were inhibited by the wet conditions, but eventually the honours went to the Highlanders which was mana after they had stalled with successive defeats.

At the start of the Super 15, the Highlanders stunned with victory in Wellington. From there the southern men have delivered many warming chapters in their inaugural season under Jamie Joseph and Simon Culhane's committed coaching care.

They survived der their posts and pleas for a penalty try when Kade Poki's knock on denied two Hurricanes a run to the line. But the hosts showed grit and gristle from the hosts to staunch a mini-losing streak.

There was an absorbing contest in the first half even though the Invercargill scoreboard attendant only needed to move a couple of times.

For most of the first half it looked as though he would only record the second-minute penalty for Aaron Cruden as both teams created chances but could not finish.

The Canes pushed towards the line several times but the diffuiculty in passing combined with the rush defence of the Highlanders to shut down those opportunities.

Lock James Broadhurst had his lunge for the line scrubbed out by the television match official with replays showing he lost the slippery ball. At that stage the visitors had momentum, captain Andrew Hore especially prominent in the confrontational pileups just several hours drive away from his farm in the Maniatoto.

Then momentum shifted. The reasons were not so clear though the kicking game of Jimmy Cowan, Ben Smith and Lima Sopoaga pushed the Highlanders into better areas.

Smith was denied as he chased a speculator to the line and No 8 Nasi Manu lost the ball in a tackle as he crunched ahead towards a try.

The scoreboard attendant scraped his chair back but did not have to lever his weight from the seat.

Five minutes from halftime Cowan hit a perfectly weighted kick from a ruck and Smith, following up hard, did not have to break stride as he collected the bounce and busted through the final two defenders. Sopoaga converted and then knocked over a 45m penalty right on the break.

There were no fuzzy edges about the halftime messages from Joseph.

The game would be won up front so he wanted his forwards to hold the ball, absorb the pressure, wear the visitors' down. Cowan, Sopoaga and Co had to find strong field position.

Invercargill lived up to its reputation with the weather. It suited the hosts as the willing contest continued with Jamie Mackintosh, Alando Soakai, Josh Bekhuis and Manu grafted in the best southern tradition.

Hore had his allies too, Victor Vito brought a mix of power and subtlety in his work, Neemia Tialata hoed in and Ma'a Nonu, back after weeks out with a fractured eye-socket, led the midfield attacking thrusts.

In the 57th minute, Piri Weepu returned to Super 15 after his seven-month injury absence. He lasted and had some nice touches but could not conjure the necessary magic.

Highlanders

Tries: Ben Smith

Penalties: Lima Sopoaga 2

Conversion: Lima Sopoaga

Hurricanes

Penalties: Cruden 2.

Halftime: 10-3