Kirifi and Roigard heroic as Hurricanes sneak past the Highlanders

Week five of Super Rugby Pacific got underway in Dunedin on Friday evening when the Highlanders hosted the Hurricanes in the “Super Kids” round.

Forsyth Barr Stadium had been a happy hunting ground for the Hurricanes in recent years, winning their last four games under the roof against the Highlanders, extending that to five matches after a 20-18 victory on Friday evening.

Highlanders fullback Sam Gilbert had the chance to win it at the death, pulling his drop goal wide after the full time hooter.

Co-captain of the Hurricanes Du’Plessis Kirifi was huge for Clark Laidlaw’s side, as was All Blacks halfback Cameron Roigard.

Clark Laidlaw’s Hurricanes were quick to put pressure on the home side after Tanielu Tele’a cleanly dropped the ball on the first play of the game.

The Hurricanes forwards rolled up their sleeves early on, powering close to the line before a long pass from first five Harry Godfrey set Ruben Love free. Love quickly shuffled the ball onto Kini Naholo, who strolled over the line in the corner.

The next short period of the first half was back and forth between the two teams, with neither team really taking advantage of their opposition’s errors.

The Hurricanes found themselves down to 14 men in the tenth minute after a yellow card to Ngatungane Punivai led to Highlanders fullback Sam Gilbert successfully kicking a penalty out in front, bringing the Hurricanes lead down to only two.

Both teams traded penalties as the game hit the quarter mark, keeping the teams within touching distance.

The Hurricanes first half kicking game at Forsyth Barr Stadium was often their own worst enemy, putting themselves under unnecessary pressure. Godfrey had one charged down by Sean Withy, while also kicking two out on the full during the first half.

Just as you thought the first-half action was over, Highlanders winger Caleb Tangitau gave the home side the lead with just under two minutes to play in the half. Tangitau picked off a Brad Shields basketball pass, to run the length and outpace the covering Ruben Love to score in the corner.

It’s not the first time that Tangitau’s defensive reads this season have lead to a full field intercept try, as it was Tangitau’s second intercept try of the season, his first being against Moana Pasifika in round three of the competition.

HT: 11-8 to the Highlanders.

The Hurricanes started the second half the stronger of the two sides, building an impressive set of phases in the Highlanders half, before a beautiful short ball from All Blacks halfback Cameron Roigard put Bailyn Sullivan through a huge gap.

Sullivan beat Taine Robinson on the outside, before unselfishly firing a pass back inside to Roigard to score ten meters from the post.

Soon after the Hurricanes took the lead at Forsyth Barr Stadium in the second half, head coach Clark Laidlaw decided that he needed impact from his bench, bringing on Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Brayden Iose.

It was only a matter of time before Tangitau was back in the thick of the action, this time his quick thinking was the difference when his audacious kick from a penalty win was rewarded with a try from reserve playmaker Ajay Faleafaga, who stormed in under the posts.

Laidlaw’s Hurricanes were quick to hit back, this time with Ruben Love in the far right corner. Love’s fancy dive in the corner was on the back of a breakaway from midfielder Bailyn Sullivan, where quick ball caught the Highlanders defence napping on the opposite wing from the line break.

All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax was caught not releasing, allowing Sam Gilbert to take the lead with just under 15 minutes to go. Gilbert’s penalty went just wide, keeping the game in the balance.

The Hurricanes were defending deep in their own half before co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi got over the ball to win a crucial turnover in the context of the match.

The home side weren’t finished there, continuously pushing the Hurricanes defence to the final whistle, but it wasn’t to be for the team from the deep south, falling just short of their third win of the season.

FT: 20-18 to the Hurricanes

The Highlanders will be back at Forsyth Barr Stadium next Saturday night to host the Queensland Reds in round six of the competition.

Laidlaw and the Hurricanes won’t have a fixture in round six, as they are on the bye.