Hurricanes make Super statement with win over Brumbies
The Brumbies have fallen short of a Super Rugby Pacific statement win, beaten 32-27 by the Hurricanes in Wellington.
In a clash of two top-four outfits on Friday, they stuck with the hosts throughout an edgy contest until Hurricanes' flyhalf Aidan Morgan scampered over 12 minutes from time to break things open.
Two first-half tries for Nick Frost saw the Brumbies lead early and only trail by three points at the interval, but the hosts' professional systems eventually wore them down.
Replacement Ryan Lonergan slotted a penalty goal after the siren to grab the guests a losing bonus point, ensuring they at least don't travel home empty-handed.
It means no Australian team has beaten a New Zealand-based side across the ditch through the competition's first 10 rounds, sitting with an unenviable 0-8 record.
And it's a reminder of the levels the Brumbies will have to reach if they're to threaten New Zealand's sides come finals, the only blemishes on their 7-2 record their two trips overseas.
* (Continue below ...)
Two brilliant counter-attacking efforts from the visitors kept things tight early, with towering lock Frost crossing the line to cap both of them.
Wing Corey Toole flashed his electric speed to break the home side's line and create the first for a 7-0, before 206-cm-forward Frost jagged an intercept and showed his own pace to run 75 metres and knot the scores at 14-all.
They'd been beaten twice in between those two tries, including via a clever short line-out routine that had seen Hurricanes No.8 Ardie Savea put his side in front.
Cam Roigard scored a seventh try in nine outings from a sneaky scoot out of the ruck early in the second stanza, before the Brumbies' rolling maul dragged some points back courtesy of Rory Scott.
The loss was further soured by a suspected knee injury two minutes from time for Ben O'Donnell, the bench winger collapsing while carrying the ball and needing to be helped from the field.
The Brumbies edged territory but didn't look as threatening as usual with the ball in hand, well stifled by one of the competition's best defences on their home turf.
They won't head back to New Zealand until any potential Final, but will face the Highlanders (seventh) and Chiefs (first) in the run-in.
* In the other Friday outing the Waratahs snatched a thrilling last-gasp 21-20 win over the Highlanders to climb back into the Super Rugby Pacific top eight.
It was the Waratahs' first New Zealand scalp of the 2023 season.
Ben Donaldson's last-minute conversion of a desperate Mahe Vailanu try earned the Waratahs a heart-stopping 21-20 win.
The thrilling victory thrust Darren Coleman's side from 10th to sixth on the ladder.
All the Friday, April 28, scores and scorers follow below ...
Hurricanes 32-27 Brumbies
The scorers
For the Hurricanes
Tries: Flanders, Savea, Roigard, Morgan
Cons: Barrett 3
Pens: Barrett 2
For the Brumbies
Tries: Frost 2, Scott, Tooley
Cons: Lolesio 2
Pen: Lolesio
Teams
Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Harry Godfrey, 23 Kini Naholo.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Ollie Sapsford, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Fred Kaihea, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Ben O’Donnell.
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Chris Hart
Waratahs 21-20 Highlanders
The scorers
For the Waratahs
Tries: Perese, Foketi, Vailanu
Cons: Donaldson 3
For the Highlanders
Tries: Renton, A Smith
Cons: Gilbert 2
Pens: Gilbert 2
Teams
Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Hugh Sinclair, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Te Tera Faulker.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Nephi Leatigaga, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Charlie Gamble, 20 Will Harris, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Joey Walton, 23 Mosese Tuipulotu.
Highlanders: 15 Connor Garden-Bachop, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Sam Gilbert, 11 Scott Gregory, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Aaron Smith (captain), 8 Hugh Renton, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Will Tucker, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Pari Pari Parkinson, 20 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 23 Jona Nareki.
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Matt Kellahan
TMO: James Leckie