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'That was challenging': Hurricanes go joint-top with win over Highlanders

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Winger Salesi Rayasi has scored two tries for the Hurricanes in their 29-14 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Highlanders to take them joint-top with the Chiefs.

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It was 8-7 to the visitors after a drab first half on Saturday in Dunedin, full of errors by both teams and interventions by the referee.

Rayasi scored the game’s first try in the 14th minute after the Hurricanes had attacked through 16 phases, finally creating space for the big winger.

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The Highlanders replied with a try to No.8 Hugh Renton who detached from a five-metre scrum and strolled over. A penalty to Jordie Barrett separated the teams at the break.

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The Canes managed to score two quick tries at the start of the second half.

Lock Jamie Blackwell got their second after good lead-up work by centre Billy Proctor and halfback Cam Roigard.

Roigard scored himself three minutes later and the Hurricanes had the comfort of a 22-7 lead, which became 29-7 when Rayasi crossed for his second after a good break by replacement No.9 Jamie Booth.

The hosts had the final say with a 75th-minute try to captain Billy Harmon but it wasn’t enough to stop the Hurricanes winning their sixth in seven matches this season.

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“That was challenging, it was tough and we had to go to the well,” Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea said.

“That first half was tough and I was just proud of the boys to come back in the second half and really nail the simple things and get it done.”

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Upnorth-taniwha 39 minutes ago
New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

So with all that's been said, France sending a b team, top 14 so strong, we support ab’s, they support top 14 and WC and six nations. It is what it is, but do you think that the results of this tour have matched the outcry? Like the first test against a so called b side? Yes we won, just. The second test was better, but against a lesser team apparently. And the third test we will experiment, to a degree. But we are still not thrashing them. One would expect if the teams they are sending are so bad, then why aren't we holding them scoreless and why aren't we putting 50-60 points on them every week? We put all our emphasis on international rugby, yet the show isn't what one would think it would be considering all the facts. I don't know, but I was really expecting the ABS to come out in the first test and show France how pissed off they were that they had sent a mediocre test team. Send them home thrashed and with their Tails between there legs, but I don't know. I think they would go home confident that even if they put the b side in, they can compete against a power house AB team. Not good for us, more so for them. As we all know, the mental side of international rugby is huge. Players confidence can set there path for their careers. So I think it was a perfect chance to absolutely dent the confidence of these up and comers, so when they faced us again in the future, they wouldnt be so keen! And if the ABs had really smashed this team and any other team that done the same, then it would be a message to all international sides. That if you do so, you do so at your own risk and at the expense of the growth of your players going forwards. I get what everyone is saying in regards to all the other stuff. Yes we have a lot to work on. But firstly we need to win, and win big. Otherwise these complaints of b sides, look rather silly. Yes we are 2 nil up. The second test against a much weeker side was better-ish. But C'mon, if they want to send b sides, we should treat them like that, and really be smashing them. Confidence in any player, can be changed for the entirety of their careers. Maybe if we did this, they would realise the effects and send stronger teams. But I don't think that so far this series, any player would feel like they wouldn't want another go at the ABs and can face up to them. Just a thought

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