Hurricanes hold firm as Crusaders lose at home for first time in four years

A superb Hurricanes display saw them end the Crusaders’ 36-match unbeaten home run in a thrilling Super Rugby Aotearoa clash on Saturday.

Nineteen points from Jordie Barrett helped the visitors to a 34-32 triumph in Christchurch that keeps the competition well and truly alive in New Zealand.

The Crusaders had not lost at home since 2016 but found themselves 21-17 down at the break, despite Richie Mo’unga having put them 10-3 ahead early on.

Two Wes Goosen tries and pinpoint accuracy from the boot of Barrett gave the Hurricanes their half-time lead, but a Mo’unga penalty reduced the deficit to a point early in the second period.

Another Barrett penalty and a fine individual try from Peter Umaga-Jensen, combined with resolute defending, saw the Wellington outfit edge closer to a stunning victory over the 10-time Super Rugby champions.

Quinten Strange scrambled over the line but another Barrett penalty restored the seven-point lead in a dramatic finale in which Mo’unga set up Sevu Reece to cross the line and close the Crusaders to within two points.

However, the fly-half missed his conversion, allowing the Hurricanes to move second in the table thanks to a deserved victory that marked Ben Lam’s 50th and final appearance for the side.

66 – 66 points was the aggregate score as @Hurricanesrugby (34) def. Crusaders (32) in tonight’s #SuperRugbyAotearoa fixture; only twice before in @SuperRugby history have these teams had a higher scoring game (70 – Round 6, 2001 & 68 – Round 11, 2002). Entertainment.#CRUvHUR pic.twitter.com/BlpM3lPiOp

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) July 25, 2020

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