All Black concern as Hurricanes crush Highlanders

30/03/2024 11:34

SUPER SATURDAY WRAP: Cam Roigard scored a try, set up two others and limped off injured as the Hurricanes crushed the Highlanders 47-12 to maintain their dominant start to the Super Rugby Pacific season.

Scrumhalf Roigard was a pivotal figure in a fast-paced match in Dunedin as the Hurricanes made it six wins from six, picking up a bonus point to stretch their lead atop the standings.

The ruthless visitors lifted their season try tally to 33, crossing seven times against a Highlanders side who slumped to their fourth defeat.

Wellington were 28-0 ahead at halftime, with the last try before the break being scored by the lively Roigard, who was a constant menace with his probing runs.

Touted as the player most likely to replace the retired Aaron Smith at the base of the scrum for the New Zealand All Blacks, Roigard suffered a dislocated kneecap in the second half that forced him from the field.

Captain Brad Shields hoped his 23-year-old game-breaker wouldn't be out for long but noted the Hurricanes have an excellent backup scrum-half in veteran Test player TJ Perenara.

"One thing we're pretty lucky with at the moment is our depth. If you take one All Black off, you bring another All Black on," said Shields, who was enjoying his team's fast-paced style.

"It's pretty cool, I can't complain at the moment.

"We're pretty excited with where we are but there's a lot of season to go."

The Blues also attacked with freedom to beat Moana Pasifika 47-8 at Eden Park, with All Blacks wing Mark Telea bagging three of their seven tries.

Flyhalf Stephen Perofeta crossed for a try and landed six conversions in a 16-point haul.

Fijian Drua made it three wins from three at home, although they had to ditch their customary free-wheeling style to beat the Western Force 31-13 at a waterlogged Churchill Park in Lautoka.

The Fijian side scored three tries to two but were able to pull clear courtesy of 16 points off the boot of flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula.

Force captain Nic White conceded his team were outplayed on a pitch that resembled a giant puddle following several days of heavy rain.

"We wanted to play with structure in these conditions but the Drua just handled it better than us," White said.

"This will feel like one we look back on that got away on us."

*More to follow...

Fijian Drua 31-13 Western Force

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Momo, Ravutaumada, Masi;
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 2;
Pens: Armstrong-Ravula 4

For Western Force
Tries: Tiatia
Pens: Donaldson 2

Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Apisalome Vota, 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20 Motikiai Murray, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Waqa Nalaga, 23 Taniela Rakuro.

Western Force: 15 Harry Potter, 14 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White (captain), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Tim Anstee, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Thomas Franklin, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Ryan Coxon.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 George Poolman.

Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Tex Rokovereni

Moana Pasifika 8-47 Blues

For Moana Pasifika
Try: Havili Talitui
Pen: Leali'ifano

For Blues:
Tries: Tele'a 3, Heem, Perofeta, Christie
Cons: Perofeta 6

Moana Pasifika: 15 Danny Toala, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Fine Inisi, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Lotu Inisi, 7 Sione Havili Talitui (captain), 6 Jacob Norris, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Donald Brighouse, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Ola Tauelangi, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Melani Matavao,22 William Havili, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.

Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Adrian Choat, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Soane Vikena, Ofa Tu'ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes.

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon

Highlanders 12-47 Hurricanes

For Highlanders
Tries Fakatava, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Con: Gilbert

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Numia, Lakai, Aumua, Roigard, Moorby, Perenara, Sangster.
Cons: Cameron 4, Barrett 2

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Sam Gilbert, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Billy Harmon (captain), 6 Sean Withy, 5 Max Hicks, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma'u, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 James Arscott, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Josh Timu.

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Ngane Punivai.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey

Reds v Brumbies

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (co-captain), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (co-captain), 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Peni Ravai.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Cormac Daly, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Sefo Kautai, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Harry Vella, 18 Rhys Van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Tom Hooper, 21 Luke Reimer, 22 Harrison Goddard, 23 Declan Meredith.

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw