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Highlanders hit back to blow away Hurricanes
By Rob Lancaster
The Highlanders ended a three-match losing run against the Hurricanes with a 30-14 triumph at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.
Jeff Toomaga-Allen's 50th-minute try - converted by Beauden Barrett - put the visitors 14-13 ahead, only for the Highlanders to hit back with 17 unanswered points in the closing quarter of the contest.
Tyrel Lomax and Waisake Naholo both touched down to send the Highlanders into the international break on a winning note.
They also remain unbeaten at their Dunedin fortress this season, despite struggling in the opening half and seeing back-rower Liam Squire sent to the sin bin in the 38th minute.
After Lima Sopoaga kicked the hosts ahead with an early penalty, the Hurricanes hit the front thanks to a converted score from Jordie Barrett.
However, Squire's yellow card for a high tackle seemed to wake up the snoozing Highlanders, who scored tries through Tevita Li and Aaron Smith either side of half-time while temporarily down to 14 men.
They fell behind again when a turnover allowed Toomaga-Allen to cross, yet the Hurricanes struggled for attacking momentum as they slipped to back-to-back Super Rugby defeats on the road.
Prop Lomax plunged over by the posts to reclaim the lead before a stunning move involving both backs and forwards created space out wide for wing Naholo to sprint in at the corner.
Sopoaga added both conversions, as well as a 73rd-minute penalty, as the Highlanders moved up to third in the New Zealand Conference, 10 points behind the table-topping Crusaders.
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Latest Comments
Ireland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
Go to commentsFair to say that NZ have come to respect Ireland, as have all teams. But it's a bit click-baitey to say that the game is the premier show-down for NZ.
SA has beaten NZ four times in a row, including in the RWC final.
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