Hurricanes topple Crusaders

Brayden Iose scores for the Hurricanes.
Photo: Photosport

The Hurricanes have scored a 27-26 upset win over the Crusaders in their last regular season match of the Super Rugby competition.

The result doesn’t alter the Hurricanes position on the competition ladder – they finish fifth in the standings meaning they will head to Canberra to play the Brumbies in the quarterfinals next weekend.

The Crusaders by finishing second will play either the Fijian Drua or Western Force in Christchurch in the first round of the playoffs.

The Crusaders dominated Saturday night’s first half in Wellington, leading 19-3 half an hour into the match, with Leicester Fainga’anuku, Codie Taylor and Brayden Innor all scoring tries.

But just when it appeared the Crusaders were on a roll, the Hurricanes through Billy Proctor scored just before the break to give the home side hope and make it 19-8 at halftime.

The match turned on its head in the second half with the Hurricanes dominating territory and possession.

It was the Hurricanes first win over the Crusaders at home in five years and gave retiring hooker Dane Coles a winning send off in his final game at Sky Stadium.

Codie Taylor of the Crusaders and Dane Coles of the Hurricanes square off in the Hurricanes v Crusaders match.
Photo: Photosport

In the second half, halfback Cam Roigard reduced the difference to just four points when he scored the Hurricanes second try.

Fullback Josh Moorby then gave the Hurricanes the lead when he scored scored just over ten minutes from full time.

The Hurricanes sealed the match when number eight Brayden Iose rampaged off the back of a scrum on the Crusaders 22 metre line with the defenders unable to bring him down, giving the home side the lead 27-19 with just a couple of minutes to play.

Crusaders replacement winger Chay Fihaki scored a consolation right on the fulltime which was converted to cut the margin to just one.

-RNZ