Super Rugby Pacific: Hurricanes make strong start with big win over Reds

Cam Roigard shone in the Hurricanes' win over the Reds. Photo / Getty Images

Hurricanes 47

Reds 13

The Hurricanes knew their trip to Townsville to take on the Reds was going to be a tough way to start their season.

They might not have expected to come away from the clash with 47 points to their name and a bonus-point win.

While it wasn’t always a pretty performance from the Hurricanes, they took their opportunities and, as the heat and fatigue began to become a factor late in the game, they pounced. The Hurricanes scored 31 second-half points to claim a 47-13 win, keeping the Reds scoreless for the last 50 minutes of the match.

“It’s pretty warm out here and defending was pretty tough,” head coach Jason Holland told Stan Sport after the match. “We got a bit more accurate in the second half and finally broke them down.”

It was an impressive showing from a fresh-faced Hurricanes side. While All Blacks stars like Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett found fine form early, relative newcomers such as first-five Aidan Morgan and halfback Cam Roigard showed they are certainly not out of their depth in starting roles at this level.

There were definitely elements of the game the Hurricanes will want to work on. For the opening 20 minutes or so, the side was sloppy in possession. While they got themselves into attacking positions, their option-taking and execution left a lot to be desired.

It was messy footy both ways, though. The Hurricanes conceded 14 turnovers to the Reds’ 18, both gave away double digits penalties, while the number of missed tackles will be a point of improvement for both.

Held to just two Jordie Barrett penalties as they found themselves down 13-6 after 30 minutes, they were finally able to make an opportunity count when Billy Proctor scored out wide.

Holland’s decision to give his front row trios 40 minutes each was a smart move, with hooker Asafo Aumua particularly impactful in the second half as the Reds slowed down.

It was an Aumua lineout drive that got the scoreboard ticking over in the second half – albeit a penalty try rather than one to Aumua’s tally – before he split the defence to put Roigard away in the 54th minute.

The Reds did cross the line twice in the second half, but both times their tries were ruled out for infringements in the build up.

At the 65-minute mark things took a twist as Hurricanes loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi was sin binned for the team’s repeated infringements. At 30-13, the door was still slightly ajar for the Reds to make a comeback.

Reserve halfback Jamie Booth slammed it shut a few minutes later, finishing off a Proctor break, before Julian Savea and Lomax put the result beyond doubt.

Hurricanes 47 (Penalty try, Billy Proctor, Cam Roigard, Jamie Booth, Julian Savea, Tyrel Lomax tries; Jordie Barrett 3 cons, 3 pens)

Reds 13 (Jordan Petaia try; Tom Lynagh con, 2 pens)

HT: 16-13.