Hurricanes beat Blues, Crusaders downed
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Hurricanes have firmly established themselves as Super Rugby title favourites with a 42-19 win over the Blues in Wellington.
Fullback Callum Harkin and halfback Cam Roigard were among the standouts as Clark Laidlaw’s team continues to run riot in the competition.
Harkin sliced through for the opener, running a great line in the fourth minute as they smoothered the Blues and moved to a 14-0 lead after Billy Proctor was able to dive over.
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The Blues were hungry for a road win, sporting either shaved or dyed blonde hair in honour of retired teammate Cam Suafoa, who called time on his career due to cancer.
They composed themselves and eventually rallied through in-form centre AJ Lam to get on the board.
The Blues found some more space as Codemeru Vai’s hands set up his fellow wing Caleb Clarke in the corner for his 39th try reducing the margin to two points
Fehi Fineanganofo steadied the ship for the hosts, with Roigard’s break creating enough chaos for the damaging winger to do what he does best and cross the line.
It gave the Hurricanes a 21-12 lead heading into the break, which they quickly extended after the break via Asafo Aumua.
Aumua found himself piloting an unstoppable rolling maul, breaking clear at the end for the try.
Roigard’s kicking game started to cause all sorts of chaos, producing a masterclass for his chasers as they kept the Blues under pressure.
But just as the ‘Canes looked as if they were threatening to run away with it, the game was flipped on its head when Fineanganofo was yellow-carded for a clear high shot on Mason Tupaea.
It flipped the field completely, and instead of defending their line, the Blues were crashing over the Hurricanes as Malachi Wrampling kept the visitors in the fight.
In the end, the class of the Hurricanes was on full display as Harkin restored the lead when he scooped up Ruben Love’s deflected grubber and dived over for his second.
Roigard sealed the win with a quick tap try with 10 minutes to go.
It sets up another top-of-the-table clash for next week, with the Chiefs leapfrogging the Blues after their win over Moana Pasifika.
Meanwhile the Queensland Reds have snapped a 15-year hoodoo in a 31-26 win against the defending champion Crusaders
Victory wasn't easy as the visitors stayed in the contest despite the Reds dominating, but late tries to winger Filipo Daugunu and substitute Louis Werchon secured Queensland's victory and cemented their position inside the top six.
Daugunu dazzled all game in his 100th competition appearance, running for 120 metres and scoring a try.
The Crusaders (4-4) are now in danger of missing out on finals despite coming into the contest with three straight wins.
With All Blacks fullback Will Jordan out (calf tightness), his replacement Johnny McNicholl was busy with an assist and a try-saving tackle against Jock Campbell in the second half.
It took just over four minutes for the Crusaders to score when fullback McNicholl lofted a pass to an open Christian Lio-Willie in the left corner.
The Reds responded first through Fraser McReight and then Gordon, after he pounced on a Harry Wilson kick.
The visitors hit back when they moved right from a maul and found Chay Fihaki in the 21st minute.
Leading 14-12 at halftime, the Reds scored within the first minute of the second period when scrumhalf Kalani Thomas tore through and grubbered for a diving Tim Ryan.
The Crusaders equalised when hooker George Bell capitalised from a maul before Daugunu picked the ball up from a ruck and wrestled over the line in the 74th minute.
The visitors looked to find another five-pointer, but Werchon scooped up a loose ball before going on a 50-metre tear to seal victory.
Fihaki crossed after the siren to salvage a losing bonus point for the Crusaders.