Hurricanes rally late for win
The Hurricanes scored 26 unanswered second-half points to beat the Rebels 36-12 in their Super Rugby encounter in Wellington on Friday.
The Rebels, as has become the norm, gave good account of themselves in the first half and were good value for their two-point (12-10) lead at the break.
However, four second-half tries - of which two were in the final three minutes - saw the Hurricanes retain their status as the tournament's only unbeaten team.
The Hurricanes were made to work hard for their sixth win of the season.
Replacement wing Nehe Milner-Skudder scored a late double to give the Hurricanes a five-tries-to-nil, bonus-point victory - to keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.
Despite the score, the Rebels were in the contest for much of the match and the Hurricanes showed tremendous courage under fire to repel waves of Rebels attack deep inside their own territory.
Throughout the match, and particularly in the middle stages of the second half, the Rebels were able to build pressure by keeping play close to the rucks and starving the Hurricanes of possession.
Scrumhalf TJ Perenara, in his 50th match for the Hurricanes, was also sin-binned with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Perenara had scored the only try of the first spell, but the boot of Rebels fullback Mike Harris proved the difference as the Rebels disrupted the Hurricanes at the breakdowns.
After conceding an early penalty, the Hurricanes ran back a Rebels clearing kick and No.8 Victor Vito sent Perenara over in the corner to score his try. Fullback Jason Woodward added the extras from the sideline and the Hurricanes led 7-3.
Hurricanes flyhalf James Marshall caught the Rebels napping by taking a quick tap penalty inside his 22, chasing deep into Rebels territory. The Rebels scrambled in defence and cleared the danger.
Harris kicked to put the Rebels ahead 9-7 after half-an-hour.
Woodward and Harris exchanged further penalties to see out the first half.
The Hurricanes were forced to make a patient start to the second half as the Rebels continued their tactics of keeping ball in hand and building multiple phases.
Rebels hooker Pat Leafa soon broke through the defensive line but spilled the ball forward. The Hurricanes counterattacked through Woodward who booted the ball down field for the chasers to pour through.
The Hurricanes won a penalty, kicked for the corner and were soon rewarded with their second try of the match to wing Cory Jane in the corner. Woodward calmly slotted the sideline conversion and the Hurricanes now led 17-12.
The Rebels pressed back on to the ascendancy with another long period with ball in hand. The Hurricanes defended stoutly and waited for the turnover, which came for flyhalf Marshall to boot ahead up past halfway.
The ball sat up perfectly for the Hurricanes players and openside flank Callum Gibbins galloped away to score his maiden Super Rugby try. Woodward added the extras, extending the Hurricanes' lead to 24-12.
The Hurricanes made a terrific try-saving tackle on Rebels inside centre Mitch Inman after an attacking scrum a little while later. Inman was held up over the line by Perenara and Victor Vito.
The Rebels maintained the pressure, leading to Perenara being sin-binned on his own line.
The Hurricanes dug deep and clawed their way out of danger. Eventually, a Marshall stab kick was regathered by replacement wing Nehe Milner-Skudder who linked up with replacement prop Chris Eves to almost rein in a tough inside pass and score.
Their bonus point try came soon after, with Milner-Skudder powering over to make it 29-12.
Milner-Skudder made then added the icing on the win with the final play of the game, when he found himself on the end of the chain to score in the corner in front of the players' tunnel.
The Hurricanes host the Stormers in Wellington next Friday in their Easter weekend fixture.
Man of the match: Mike Harris was steady and Scott Higginbotham worked hard. But the real class was in the Hurricanes team. Jason Woodward was a rock at the back, Conrad Smith was the team's glue, again, TJ Perenara did well until he was yellow-carded late in the match, Victor Vito was busy and good value and James Broadhurst had another solid outing. However, our award goes to Hurricanes wing Matt Proctor, who made a number of crucial try-saving tackles and impressed with his work off the ball.
The scorers:
For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Perenara, Jane, Gibbins, Milner-Skudder 2
Cons: Woodward 4
Pen: Woodward
For the Rebels:
Pens: Harris 4
Yellow card: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes, 69 - professional foul, deliberately knocking the ball down)
Teams:
Hurricanes: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Matt Proctor, 10 James Marshall, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Otere Black, 23 Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Tom English, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Sefanaia Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Colby Fainga'a, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Jonah Placid.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)