Hurricanes No 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi leads defensive effort in knife-edge win against Highlanders
Friday, 14 March 2025
At Forysth Barr Stadium, Dunedin: Hurricanes 20 (Kini Naholo try 3min, Cam Roigard try 42min, Ruben Love try 62min; Harry Godfrey con, pen) Highlanders 18 (Caleb Tangitau try 38min, Ajay Faleafaga try 59min; Sam Gilbert con, 2 pen). HT: 8-11
The Hurricanes have rediscovered their defensive grit to hang on for a crucial two-point win against the Highlanders.
The visitors withstood countless phases in a tension-filled final 10 minutes to secure a win that could turn out to be pivotal in their season.
But they had to empty their tank, and ride their luck at times, to withstand a fit Highlanders side that got plenty of impact off the bench.
The Highlanders had the chance to win the game with a drop goal in the final seconds, but Sam Gilbert dragged his kick wide to spark spirited celebrations among the Hurricanes players.
Du’Plessis Kirifi was outstanding for the Hurricanes, winning a late breakdown penalty to lead his side from the front.
However, it was a win that was in the balance for much of the game.
Highlanders winger Caleb Tangitau, who is quickly developing a reputation as an intercept specialist, scored a brilliant opportunist’s try just before halftime, grabbing a loose Brad Shields pass and racing 80 metres to score.
Tangitau outpaced Kini Naholo, Harry Godfrey and Ruben Love on the way to the tryline, a show of speed that should alert the All Blacks selectors.
It gave the Highlanders a 11-8 lead at the break, but it did not last long as Cam Roigard restored the lead for the visitors following a nice break and selfless pass by Bailyn Sullivan.
The lead continued to change hands again twice in a seesawing second half as replacement Highlanders playmaker Ajay Faleafaga and Hurricane fullback Love scored within minutes of each other.
The Hurricanes introduced All Blacks Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax into the fray, and they immediately made their presence felt at scrum time.
However, neither side could establish any dominance as both defences dug deep.
Gilbert also missed a penalty chance from a handy position after 67 minutes, which would ultimately prove costly for the home side.
However, the winning of the game came from the Hurricanes’ heroic defence in the last 10 minutes.
In a rugged if somewhat messy clash in front a crowd of 15,355, the Hurricanes lost Ngatungane Punivai after just 10 minutes after he copped the full force of a powerful carry by Timoci Tavtavanawai.
Referee Angus Mabey surprisingly let play carry on despite Punivai clearly being knocked out, and to add insult to injury he showed him a yellow card for head contact in the attempted tackle after he had been taken off the field.
Punivai subsequently failed his HIA and was replaced by Fatafehi Fineanganofo when the 10 minutes on yellow card had elapsed.
Just 10 minutes later, Peter Lakai might have been a touch fortunate not to be penalised for what appeared to be head contact on Highlanders hooker Jack Taylor.
The Hurricanes dominated the battle at the breakdown, with the loose forwards and wingers Fineanganofo and Kini Naholo all getting involved to win penalties.
Kirifi played with a heavily strapped right thigh, but it didn’t prevent him from having a signifcant influence on both sides of the ball.
But Love and Harry Godfrey were both guilty of poor kicking to prevent the Hurricanes from building any sustained periods of pressure.
Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie was a sharp point of their attack, continuing his fine season.
Hastie frequently took a step to challenge the Hurricanes around the ruck, but wider out the Highlanders are mssing injured fullback Finn Hurley.