Super Rugby: Hurricanes too good for Reds

Matt Proctor of the Hurricanes breaks through the Reds defence. Photo / Getty

New Zealand's Super Saturday was heading for Scrappy Saturday until a late Hurricanes flourish in Brisbane, inspired by the Barrett brothers, sealed the expected bonus point victory.

The upshot is that no New Zealand side has lost, after six rounds, to any team other than a fellow Kiwi outfit.

After the Blues and Chiefs had laboured to victories earlier in the evening, it was expected that the Hurricanes would fly at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. But instead, after an explosive opening quarter, the visitors found themselves hauled into an almighty scrap and having an extraordinary four tries ruled out by TMO George Ayoub. In fairness, all the reviewed decisions were correct, which only added to the Hurricanes' frustration.

The Reds showed more starch than expected, lock Rob Simmons claiming lineout ball, the pack tackling with venom and Scott Higginbotham showing his full array of skills. The great No 7 George Smith made his presence felt at the breakdown.

The most penetrative Hurricanes back was actually the unheralded centre Matt Proctor, who gave his opposite Samu Kerevi headaches.

Beauden Barrett employed his variety of attacking kicks to good effect, while Ardie Savea was his usual dynamic self at No 8, though he looked to have hurt his leg late on. Vince Aso ran hard on the right wing, and extended his lead at the top of the tryscoring charts with a second half score.

Lock Mark Abbott would have finished one of the team tries of the season, but his right boot shaved the touchline. It was that kinda night for the Hurricanes.

And yet, fresh off the bye, they opened up early on the beleaguered Reds. The home side had had to cope with travel, injury, Quade Cooper's tweets, a cyclone and some Hurricane-force rugby in the first stanza.

Tries to Julian Savea and TJ Perenara saw them rollick to a 14-0 lead. Perenara, wearing the skipper's armband but having personality issues with referee Angus Gardner, scored his 40th Super Rugby try, an intercept and a record for halfbacks in the competition.

Remarkably, he has achieved the feat in less than six seasons. It could have been 21-0 but Beauden Barrett had a try ruled out due to a late tackle by Ngani Laumape, who was binned.

But the resilient Reds rallied, posting two tries after adopting an offloading strategy. No 8 Higginbotham's reverse pass which led to his try was stunning.

The Chris Eves scrum battle with the tyro Taniela Tupou probably ended in a stalemate, though the 50-cap Hurricane departed earlier than the Kiwi-born Tongan bookend.

The Hurricanes have a shortish turnaround, facing the Waratahs in Wellington on Friday night. The Reds travel to the Australian conference-leading Brumbies next Saturday.

Hurricanes 34

(T. Perenara, J. Savea, V. Aso, J. Barrett, B. Barrett tries; J. Barrett 2 con, pen, B. Barrett con)

Reds 15

(C. Kuridrani, S. Higginbotham tries; J. McIntyre con, pen)

HT:

14-12