Hurricanes escape victorious from the 'zoo', Brumbies outclass Drua

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FRIDAY WRAP: The Hurricanes have won a thriller in Dunedin, holding on for a 20-18 win over the Highlanders.

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The visitors survived multiple late attacks from the Highlanders to vault themselves off the bottom of the ladder.

Ruben Love's try in the 62nd minute gave them the slender two-point lead later, after he answered a spectacular effort that was finished off by Aja Faleafaga.

Sam Gilbert had a penalty effort with 13 minutes to go but missed the chance from 25 metres out.

The Highlanders were back on the attack as the game's momentum flipped from side to side.

They were held up with four minutes to go before the Hurricanes looked to have won a game, only for a not-straight lineout to give them one last chance.

Tanielu Tele'a burst through the gap to get the Highlanders over halfway, setting up a drop goal effort from Gilbert that faded away.

The Hurricanes opened the scoring early through winger Kini Naholo, with their fast start halted thanks to a yellow card to Ngani Punvai.

Winger Caleb Tangitau put the hosts in front after a sensational intercept for the second week in a row right before half-time for an 11-8 lead at the break.

Cam Roigard restored the Hurricanes' lead when he put Bailyn Sullivan through a hole before backing him for the try.

Tangitau then hit back for the hosts when his bold decision to kick for himself off a penalty paid off for the replacement's Faleafaga try.

It set up the grandstand finish, with Gilbert twice missing chances to win the game.

Hurricanes co-captain Du'Plessis Kirifi was superb with a late turnover to help seal the win and claim their second win of the season.

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A Len Ikitau hat-trick has helped the Brumbies to a hard-fought 38-21 win over the Fijian Drua in a helter-skelter Super Rugby Pacific clash in Canberra.

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Both teams entered Friday night's match in high spirits, with the Brumbies having snapped a 12-year drought in beating the reigning champion Blues in Auckland last round.

The Drua had also made history with their first win over the Chiefs.

After the sides felt each other out early, the Brumbies were first on the scoreboard in the 18th minute when Test centre Ikitau burrowed over after a strong run by No.8 Charlie Cale.

Ikitau also had a hand in the second four minutes later, managing to recycle the ball for skipper Ryan Lonergan to plant the ball down from the back of the ruck.

The Drua closed the gap to 5-12 when No.8 Elia Canakaivata charged over off a tap-and-go following a clumsy penalty.

With the newly re-signed Nick Frost and flanker Tom Hooper causing damage up front, the hosts looked set to cruise to a comfortable win when Ikitau and winger Andy Muirhead scored within four minutes to set up a 28-7 half-time lead.

But with Cale exiting with back spasms, the determined Drua swung momentum their way.

Tries to flanker Motikiai Murray and Tevita Ikanivere closed the margin to seven points.

Ikitau's third try in the 50th minute, scored after another dash by game-breaking fullback Tom Wright, gave the home side some breathing space.

A turning point came five minutes later when it appeared Ikanivere had bagged his second after a rolling maul, with the try awarded and the conversion unsuccessful.

However, television official James Leckie then told referee Jordan Way he had another angle of the try that showed the reserve hooker had lost the ball, and it was disallowed on review.

That left the Drua with 12 points to make up, and despite their best efforts, the Brumbies' defence remained rock solid in the closing stages.

The Drua's misery was compounded by losing Murray to a yellow card for an ugly tackle that also forced Brumbies back Harrison Goddard from the field for an HIA.

The home side then secured a valuable bonus point with Luke Reimer jagging a try in the final minute.

Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa was delighted his team kept the pressure on until the final whistle to collect the bonus point.

"I think that was probably the most pleasing part," the Test prop told Stan Sport.

"I thought that we started really well in the first half, and then Fijian Drua capitalised on our mistakes.

"We probably got a bit loose there at the start of the second half and they came in with two early tries, but I was really proud of the effort there, and getting that bonus point was massive."

With their winless stretch away from home now at 18 matches, Drua captain Frank Lomani was disappointed his team couldn't continue their second-half surge.

"We spoke at half-time that we need to be disciplined and keep the ball in hand and just play the way we play," the scrumhalf said.

"We found momentum and got into the second half but we just couldn't finish it."

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Highlanders 18-20 Hurricanes

Scorers

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Tangitau, Faleafaga
Con: Gilbert
Pens: Gilbert 2

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Naholo, Roigard, Love
Con: Godfrey
Pen: Godfrey

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Tanielu Tele'a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (captain), 11 Joe Nareki, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Sean Withy, 6 TK Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma'u, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 James Arscott, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Jake Te Hiw.

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Ngatungane Punivai, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du'Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Zach Gallagher, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo,, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Braydon Iose, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Fatafehi Fineanganofo.

Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Mike Winter, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Glenn Newman

Brumbies 38-21 Fijian Drua

Scorers:

For the Brumbies:
Tries: Lonergan, Muirhead, Reimier, Iketau 3
Cons: Lolesio 3

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Canakaivata, Murray, Ikanivere
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 3

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feluai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Fijian Drua: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (captain), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai Murray, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Samuela Tawake, 18 Livai Natave, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Etonia Waqa, 21 Isoa Tuwai, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Isikeli Rabitu.

Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Matt Kellahan
TMO: James Leckie