For a wet Friday night in Wellington, fans were out in force when the Hurricanes played the Highlanders in another epic local derby match. Won by the home side 27-20, a big crowd of 19,918 enjoyed the occasion as their side resurrected the chance of them finishing the season in a strong position on the ladder. While the Hurricanes defeat the Highlanders, other results also went against the grain on a busy Friday night of Super Rugby.

Hurricanes defeat the Highlanders at Westpac Stadium

This was a game that took sometime to get started. The conditions did not help, with a wind that swirled around the Wellington Regional Stadium and rain soon added to the difficulties that saw the ball act like a ‘bar of soap’. Kicking naturally came into the mix, up-and-unders and kicks to the sideline used by each team but both sides challenged each other up front and that was eventually how the battle would be won for the men in yellow and black.

The game had two major factors influencing it: (1) this was a crucial stage in the Super Rugby competition, with the Highlanders only a single point above their Wellington rivals, this Round 14 clash led into the International window for test matches. This would in fact be the last game for a month-long break for all Super sides, so each team wanted to capatilize on their points available.

(2) This was a defacto All Blacks trial, with head coach Steve Hansen and his assistants on-hand to witness the game, the encounter would surely assist them to make final decisions on their 2016 squad (to be announced on Sunday morning NZT)  Under that supervision, there was an extra little bit of internal competition, between the halfbacks, first-fives for example, but all across the field. It placed a big onus on putting your best foot forward and this ‘trial-nature’ would likely contributed to the 20,000 fans who turned up and the close nature of the result.

With those factors in play, the outcome was important but the way that players performed would be most evident and several men put their hands up. Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea and Elliot Dixon but most notably, Ardie Savea. The dynamo flanker got the rewards with two tries–the last one scored in the final minute and it sealed the result 27-20. He has been a favourite of the Canes faithful (even through the indiscretion two weeks ago) and over 2016 has literally made all rugby fans aware of his wonderful playing style. Fast, powerful and always in ‘the right place at the right time’.

Speaking to media post-game, coach Chris Boyd was full of praise for Savea, as well as his pack and centre pairing. “If there is not a better two ‘sevens’ in the country [Savea and Cane] I would say they will both feature in the next month”.

Aside from representative selection, the game itself was underwhelming at times. Given the conditions, and the fact each sde had just had a bye week it was not ‘perfect’. Assitant coach John Plumtree mentioned how the game was treated in isolation due the break before and now after this match.

There were some sublime rugby played though. The opening Hurricanes try began with Victor Vito breaking free and he connected with several players before the ever-present Brad Shields was pulled down. Lima Sopoaga appeared to kick the ball back and the bobbling ball then found it’s way into the ands of Savea, who raced away to score. Classic Hurricanes rugby.

And the Highlanders had good periods too. Lima Sopoaga was involved in much of the direction of play but is very astute at sniffing opportunity. They had moved downfield in the second quarter, and when the ball was quickly spun wide, he saw the gap and crossed for a try to bring the scores close. The try conversion too showed that players ability to provide attacking class and to back it up with skills accuracy. Aaron Cruden would pay to watch his fellow number ten this season [in sustaining pressure on the scoreboard in place kicks]

While Vito and Savea helped in the opening Canes try, Brad Shields too was acclaimed by his coach and fellow flanker Savea. Described as being ‘ruthless and relentless’ he has grown terrifically from his Under 20 World Championship side to now be a forerunner of the Canes pack. His try under the goal posts was all strength, barrelling over Aaron Smith. Often out wide calling for the ball, he is good defencively and is happy to help collect equipment post-training and just be there to help the group get to their goals.

Across the park, the visitors were not so happy. Pretty unsettled work from the Highlanders tonight. Messy play, inventive at times–Sopoaga with a magnificent over the head kick that very nearly resulted in a try (and is trending on social media) but Aaron Smith overcooking some clearance kicks saw him with a strangely poor performance. Ben Smith too was not at his peak and with first phase play breaking down  and tackles either too high or a Hurricane player stepping out of them, Jamie Joseph would have been ‘spitting tacs’ when his side lumbered into the shed after 40 minutes at 17-7.

They needed a change in attitude and energy you would suspect. 15 missed tackles would give any defensive coach a headache, so Scott McLeod, Tony Brown and Jon Preston would have all demanded more. Inside two minutes, they got the answer they wanted. After a charged down kick near the Canes line, an Highlanders lineout five metres out went to midfield, a strong push by Malakai Fekitoa went towards the line and Daniel Lienert-Brown was all smiles after he scored.

That responce would be pleasing for the coaching staffs but that would need to be backed up. Sopoaga’s conversion had the scores at 17-14 and traded penalties had the game balanced at 20-20 as replacements made their impact felt. Some were predictable–props and locks, but when Sopoaga was substituted by Marty Banks, eyebrows were raised. No disservice to Marty but the pressure was on him to lead around the side and display his control, as well as the flair that he is renowned for.

That assumed pressure told and if one example gave his doubters some ammunition it was in backplay, with a clean pass dropped cold. Ouch, he would have felt the weight of the world bearing down on him–plus the laughter and heckling of the big crowd. A professional sportsman has his good and bad days. The reverse to that was Ardie Savea. He started the match at a million miles an hour, with some sparkling pace that Sir Gordon Tietjens would have dearly liked to hold on to, but Savea is a Hurricane–literally.

Those two polar opposites is what sport highlights. the heartache for Banks and the ectasy for Savea. The pain of defeat and the pleasure of victory. It is what every young player must learn to deal with, and after all the pressure through the mid-to-late stages of the game, in the end the more expressive side took the game by the throat. A maturing Savea will likely be named on Sunday beside his captain Dane Coles. The hooker indicated that the occasion was important for them, as some sides were being talked up while the Canes had been just operating a little under the radar.

“We’re probably not in a position to talk ourselves up. When your in a big game, you want to put them under pressure. You want to put pressure on key players, and I think we did that.”

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph applauded the Canes tactics post-match. “Both teams can breakout, no matter the conditions and I thought the Hurricanes were superb. Too many unforced errors, the conditions didn’t help. Some of our players were fatigued, they had to tackle so much in the first half [with little injury breaks] but the local derby games are big occasions and it counted against us tonight”.

Another example of the ferocity of the quality local derby matches. If only we could see these every week, but SANZAAR has created a ‘Super 18’ competition and to be honest, when these games come along every few weeks I for one hope to be present.

The Blues host the Crusaders tonight in Auckland, and that should be another true example of the strength in NZ Rugby. With the last three games played on Friday night all going the way of the home side, what is the chance that Tana Umaga can see his men upset the Crusaders in the wet? In 2016, anything is possible, the competition is that close locally.

RESULTS: Friday 27 May – Hurricanes 27 Highlanders 20 | Waratahs 45 Chiefs 25 | Kings 29 Jaguares 22

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Apologies for an abridged Super Rugby Saturday due to being out-of-town.

Some great clashed for all Super Rugby fans to enjoy. From Auckland to Pretoria, there is a lot to celebrate. One side point is that referee Andre Joubert will officiate his 100th Super Rugby match. A tremendous contribution to the game, the leading whistle-blower is a good standard for other referee’s to bemeasured against. So aside from the game on the pitch, Super Rugby celebrates ‘diversity in sport’ this weekend and also the recognizes officials that help make the game the explosive example that all fans enjoy.

Joubert to Referee 100th Super Rugby Match

Good luck to all sides, as the Bulls v Lions match will undoubtedly determine the South African conference standings and those sides ambitions to host home Super Rugby quarter finals.

FIXTURES: Saturday 28 May – Blues v Crusaders, Auckland | Brumbies v Sunwolves, Canberra | Stormers v Cheetahs, Cape Town | Bulls v Lions, Pretoria | Sunday 29 May – Rebels v Force, Melbourne

“Main photo credit”