1
Hurricanes hold off valiant Reds for 10th straight win
By Peter Hanson
The Hurricanes held off the valiant Reds to rack up a 10th consecutive Super Rugby win with a 38-34 success at Westpac Stadium.
Last week, the Reds were humiliated in a 63-28 battering against the Sunwolves, but the Queensland outfit were vastly improved against the high-flying Hurricanes in Wellington.
However, despite briefly taking the lead in the first half, the Canes were always just out of reach as Chris Boyd's men passed a big test to return to the top of the overall standings, New Zealand franchises collectively racking up a 41st consecutive win over Australian teams in the process.
Beauden Barrett slipped through the gap for the Canes' first try before Ben Lam wormed his way over for a one-handed score.
Two Jono Lance penalties had kept the Reds in touching distance, though, and a six-minute double salvo had the visitors in front – Taniela Tupou rummaging over and Filipo Daugunu sprinting clear.
Nehe Milner-Skudder set Blade Thomson over to put the Canes' back in front and Lam's second early after the restart appeared to put the hosts in control.
A barnstorming run from Tupou set up Jordan Petaia to reduce the deficit, only for Sam Lousi to show great athleticism to once again give the Canes breathing space.
Samu Kerevi dotted down with seven minutes to go to set up a nervy finale, but the Canes did enough to maintain their sublime winning streak.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Ex-Ireland wing brands Six Nations champs 'not that good'
3
Hacjivah Dayimani exits SA following Springbok snub
4
Saracens statement: The outcome of Billy Vunipola investigation
5
Latest Comments
So if this ain’t the best Irish team ever then who exactly is? I don’t remember any other Irish team being this good & winning a series in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Yes I may rip them often for 8 X QF RWC exits & twice not even making it to the QF, but they’re a damn good team who many think can only improve, including me!
Go to commentsNot a squeek out of Leinster for weeks about this match. So quiet. The first team have been quitely building for this encounter under Nienaber’s direction. All fresh, all highly motivated. They are expecting a season’s best performance from Northhampton. They will match that. They will be fresher and apparently they will have 80,000 out of the 83,000 shouting for them. I do expect Northhampton to turn up big time. Not to be missed. On a tangent it is evident how the loss of a few Premiership teams has in some respect helped other Premiership teams and England. More quality over less teams makes the teams better, which has a knock on effect on England. Not the only factor contributing to England’s rise but one of them.
Go to comments