Rugby: Southerners just hold on

Beauden Barrett of the Hurricanes is tackled by Andrew Hore (R) during the round four Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images.

Hurricanes 17 Highlanders 19

It is undoubtedly not a fun way to go about things, but the Highlanders have become the masters of the clinging victory.

They held on and held on last night, eventually earning a late penalty to nudge in front and stay there for another tense last five minutes. That seems to be their thing now - make life excruciatingly nervous for their loyal, and no doubt growing, following.

For the fourth week in a row they had to dig deep, show every ounce of courage and composure they had to sneak home by the narrowest of margins. They would have been seriously annoyed if they hadn't, mind.

They dominated possession and probably had the better ideas and the better structure. And they probably don't care either that they made things a little harder than they needed to be. Remember how many games the Highlanders have lost in the past few years? Remember how many they have lost by the narrowest of margins because in their not-so-distant past, they couldn't close games out.

Not now - they have found one of the most precious skills a team can have - the art of winning; and winning under the most intense pressure.

The strange thing perhaps was that the game never took off. With so many ex-Hurricanes on the field wearing the garish green and carrying varying degrees of motivation to stick one on their former team, there was always potential for this game to bubble, then spill over.

It never even got close - rugby was only allowed to break out in sporadic bursts. The penalty count in total would have been horrific. Scrum engagement probably ended up being the main source, closely followed by both teams being guilty of 'sealing off' on attack.

It didn't make for a thrilling spectacle. There were two bullish runs by Julian Savea that livened things up - the first, where he crunched into Phil Burleigh inevitably sparked memories of a former Hurricanes No 11 back in the day.

But there wasn't really much else to be excited by. The Highlanders looked an infinitely better side in the second half when Aaron Smith replaced Jimmy Cowan and they enjoyed more territory as a result of being prepared to drive around the fringes. It was a surprise not to see them do that more in the first half with the Hurricanes' pack always going to be susceptible to fatigue from their recent endeavours in the Republic and Australia.

It was also strange that the losing team enjoyed a better contribution from their No 10.

It would have presented as trick question if someone had asked in which side was the All Black first five playing? The answer of course was the Highlanders but who would have known that from last night's evidence?

Beauden Barrett was the more composed and more threatening. There was an unflappable quality to his performance - a languid ease of movement that was supported with some ultra accurate work.

The only reason Cory Jane was able to dance in at the corner for the Hurricanes' first try was because Barrett threw a bullet, flat pass that drew Tamati Ellison off the defensive line. That was enough to give Jane the half metre he needed to step and bash over. Such moments are often under-appreciated - it all looks so easy yet it is anything but. It took courage, vision and rare skill to be able to zip the ball so hard off the left hand and justifies the mindset in Taranaki that they are preparing to be without Barrett in the ITM Cup later this year.

They believe Barrett will make the All Blacks and Slade will have seen for himself just how much he has to lift if he wants to reclaim his place as Dan Carter's heir apparent.

Slade's confidence doesn't appear to have returned yet. He was a little hesitant and guilty of occasional errors that were fortunate not to have been more costly. He thundered over from close range for the opening try, but memories of him scything through defences are a fading memory. He even looked a touch ponderous at times - drifting aimlessly across field on one occasion before deservedly getting a ball-spilling comeuppance from TJ Perenara.

In his defence, Slade remains short of game time, having barely played last year before the World Cup - which was also cut short by injury. He'll fancy everything will start to become second nature - that the old rhythm will return in time, especially if he continues to kick his goals and the Highlanders win games.

Hurricanes 17 (C. Jane try; B. Barrett 4 pens), Highlanders 19 (C. Slade try; C. Slade con, 3 pens; C. Noakes pen). Halftime: 14-13.