Rugby: Highlanders suffer blow in Wellington

Ardie Savea scores the match-winning try in Wellington. Photo: Getty Images
Ardie Savea scores the match-winning try in Wellington. Photo: Getty Images

Absolutely positively Wellington? More like absolutely dismally damp Wellington.

Playing in wet and - as usual, for this part of the world - windy conditions, the Hurricanes scored a last minute try to stand-out openside flanker Ardie Savea to beat the Highlanders 27-20 last night.

It was a game where the wet weather played a big hand, negating much of the attack of both teams, and neither side could get any continuity into its game.

The Hurricanes probably shaded the game and deserved the win, as they had more ball in dangerous conditions.

There was a lot of kicking - much of it aimless - and the Highlanders always looked to be chasing the game.

It was almost as if the side which did not have the ball was more dangerous and it was easier to sit back and slide easily in defence.

Offside play was fairly obvious from both teams and the set piece battle was fairly even, although the Hurricanes' lineout was wonky.

The visiting team went into the sheds at halftime down 17-7 but came back with a try almost straight away in the second half, when prop Daniel Lienert-Brown went over, charging across from close to the line.

Lima Sopoaga then tied it up with a penalty and another penalty by either side had the score tied up 20-20 with a quarter of the game left.

Beauden Barrett had a chance to put his side ahead with a penalty with six minutes to go, but he pushed it wide.

The Highlanders, though, just could not get out of their half, and eventually Savea got the ball about 10m out with time up on the clock.

He shrugged off a couple of tackles and powered over to win the game for his side.

The Highlanders strangely seemed to run the ball a bit too often and struggled in the windy conditions.

The wind swirled around the ground and there were few line breaks.

Savea was the stand-out player on the park - he was miles ahead of his brother - while the best for the Highlanders were second five-eighth Malakai Fekitoa and lock Tom Franklin.

The Highlanders had enough ball in the first half but were down by two converted tries just after the 20 minute mark.

The wet weather was not helping the high tempo game from the lads from down south and the Hurricanes were rock solid in defence.

It was a nice combination of speed and power which put the home team ahead after 13 minutes.

No 8 Victor Vito exploded off the back of the scrum and linked down the blindside.

The side swept down the field, it then got messy in a breakdown and the ball was suddenly in the hands of flanker Savea, who scampered away to score.

Then, just on halfway through the second half, the Hurricanes had their second try when blindside flanker Brad Shields brushed off a Luke Whitelock tackle to go over under the posts.

The Highlanders were struggling in the damp conditions but finally got on the board just before the half hour mark.

Fekitoa found some space up the middle and when the ball was quickly recycled, Sopoaga ran 10m to score.

Sopoaga then brought out a piece of outrageous skill when he did a backwards chip kick, turning his back on the defence and then chipping over his shoulder.

It was picked up by centre Matt Faddes and nearly ended in a try, but the Hurricanes scrambled well in defence.

In last night's match in Sydney, the Waratahs beat the Chiefs 45-25.

 


Super rugby
The scores

Hurricanes                          27

Ardie Savea 2, Brad Shields tries; Beauden Barrett 3 con, 2 pen

Highlanders                        20

Lima Sopoaga, Daniel Lienert-Brown tries; Sopoaga 2 con, 2 penHalftime: 17-7


 

 

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