'Naki class trumps Fiji flair

Even standing on the back staircase at Spriggens Park on a clear day, you probably can't see Mt Taranaki, but it was the men from under the mountain who shone on the field on Thursday.

Hurricanes Development showed the fundamentals of phase-focused rugby still hold sway over the spontaneity of island flair as the Fiji Warriors ended the tough New Zealand leg of their Pacific Rugby Cup tour with a 38-20 trouncing in Wanganui.

In a match that saw nine tries run in on a warm afternoon, it was the Super 15 back-up men who for over 60 minutes had the wood on the Fiji A side, led by big Taranaki lock James Broadhurst smashing his way over for his team's first and last five-pointers of the entertaining match.

Provincial mate Ope Peleseuma was elusive in the midfield, slipping several attempted big hits, while playing behind a pack with ascendancy Taranaki first-five James Marshall was able to pretty much dictate terms.

The Hurricanes loose forward trio and midfielders' willingness to just make the advantage line and set up the next phase, as opposed to Fiji's focus on finding the gap or trying to bust through and see what happens, proved the marked difference.

Fullback Ratunaisa Vatuiranuku being sent off for putting his boot where he shouldn't during a late first-half ruck also reduced his side's chances.

It also blunted a key weapon as big winger and captain Nemani Nadolo, who plays his rugby in Japan, now had to cover the back.

Fiji's sole danger man for most of the game, Nadolo was outstanding as he powered his way to three sparkling tries, converting the last, and was also great on defence when the Hurricanes started to find the holes.

The match was well received by a smallish crowd of hundreds at the park, but the Fijian supporters' vocal support plus the mix of their national flags alongside the Hurricane yellow gave the match a sense of occasion.

Nadolo showed his threat early on with a powerful run, but the Hurricanes calmly worked forward for Broadhurst to force the ball down after several rucks at the line.

Until both left the field with knee and face injuries respectively, Wellington No 8 Ardie Savea and the captain, Manawatu flanker Callum Gibbens, impressed with ball in hand.

It was a Savea bust which freed up Peleseuma to cruise over for a 14-3 advantage inside the first 15 minutes.

Nadolo replied with an outstanding in-and-away to out-strip the Hurricanes back three for a 40m burst to the line.

Fiji started to line up the big hits but it was not enough to stop Gibbens, who dived through three tacklers for his first five-pointer of the afternoon.

Nadolo brought his fans to life again with a dash on the outside through two desperate dives at his massive legs to keep his team in contention.

But however dominant he was out wide, the Hurricanes owned the engine room as Gibbens was driven over by his pack not long before halftime.

A comfortable lead and Vatuiranuku's banishment saw the Hurricanes take their foot off the throat for most of the second half, quitting the hit-and-recycle tactics to start running off the ruck and throwing the ball wide.

The results were mixed, but reserve halfback Tomasi Palu's dart from the scrum base 5m out opened it up for fullback Tamai Samuels of Hawke's Bay to take a deserved try.

The score looked like it might blow out when hooker Timo Tutavaha held it up for his Taranaki teammate Broadhurst to jog in for his second.

However, in the heat the game degenerated into a scrappy affair, letting Fiji grab consolation from another exciting long range effort reserve and Northland player Josateki Brown getting free to set Nadolo up for a 22m sprint to the line.

Hurricanes Development 38 (J Broadhurst 2, C Gibbens 2, O Peleseuma, T Samuels tries, J Marshall 4 con) beat Fiji Warriors 20 (N Nadolo 3 tries, con, K Vunaki pen). HT: 26-13.