The Jordie Barrett Show rolls into Dunedin as Hurricanes beat Highlanders to claim first win of season
Fullback Jordie Barrett scored all of his team's points as the Wellington-based Hurricanes held on after a strong 50 minutes to beat the Dunedin-based Highlanders 30-19 for their first win of the season in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Barrett scored three tries, converted them and kicked three penalty goals to set a new individual points-scoring record in the New Zealand domestic competition.
The Hurricanes were 0-3 going into the game at the Highlanders' Forsyth Barr Stadium and the teams now share matching 1-4 records in the New Zealand competition, well behind the unbeaten Crusaders.
Barrett landed the first of his trademark long-range penalties in the sixth minute, then hit the backline at pace to score the first try of the match which gave the Hurricanes a 10-0 lead after 10 minutes.
The Highlanders struck back with a try to lock Bryn Evans before Barrett's second try put the Hurricanes ahead 17-7 at halftime. With a minute to go to the break, the Hurricanes attacked through the middle, then went wide and Barrett exchanged passes with Salesi Rayasi to finish off a slick team try.
All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax spent 10 minutes in the sin bin in the first half but atoned in the 44th minute when he timed his pass to Barrett, who ran a superb line to cross near the posts, completing his hat trick.
Barrett's conversion and a 54th-minute penalty put the Hurricanes ahead 27-7.
The Highlanders rallied strongly with a try after 62 minutes to winger Connor Garden-Bachop, and reduced the lead to eight points with a try three minutes from fulltime to replacement Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Barrett relieved pressure on the Hurricanes with his final penalty just after the fulltime siren.
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What’s the bet that if Ireland lose we’ll have a bunch of people blaming Rob Kearney for it?
This might pizz the All Blacks off but it won’t make George Bell throw the ball any straighter or Rieko pass the ball to his wings more often.
Go to commentsNot if you look at where the increases are happening for NZR. Apparently the biggest increase in participation was in the junior ranks and has been attributed to the extra cash that tier has received from the private equity deal NZR signed. Clubs are reducing fees dramatically and thats bringing more into the clubs. Counties club had a 200% increase in enrollments for U7s as they made it free.
Yes NRL is always hanging around schoolboy rugby tho. I see the NRL as more of a threat at SR level where the fringe players are signing for either NRL or Japan etc.
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