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14-man Hurricanes overcome late scare to beat Sharks in Durban

By Online Editors
Ngani Laumape in action for the Hurricanes against the Sharks. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes have overcome a second half scare – and a late red card – to hold off the Sharks and stay in with a chance to top the Super Rugby ladder.

In a brutal, physical, contest, the Hurricanes nearly let a 20-3 lead slip, as the Sharks came back to within three points early in the second half.

However, Ardie Savea won a penalty which Beauden Barrett knocked over, before Wes Goosen crossed with 15 minutes to go to seal an eventual 30-17 victory.

The win was slightly soured however by a red card to Vaea Fifita for a high, no-arms tackle, and tempers flared in the final minutes as well, as a brawl nearly broke out to conclude the match.

In the end, the Hurricanes’ early buffer – started by tries to Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape, and continued by a superb performance from Savea – proved enough to hold on, giving the Hurricanes their first win in Durban since 2005.

In further good news, All Blacks hooker Dane Coles also made his return from injury off the bench in the second half, as did flanker Gareth Evans.

The win moves the Hurricanes to 44 points, keeping them in with an outside chance of catching the Crusaders for top spot in both the New Zealand conference and the overall standings.

The Crusaders sit nine points ahead after their shock loss to the Chiefs, but the Hurricanes have a game in hand, meaning they would have to beat the Lions and Blues in their final two games – with at least one bonus point – and hope the Crusaders lose to the Rebels at home.

Hurricanes 30 (Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen tries; Beauden Barrett 3 cons, 3 pens)
Sharks 17 (Aphelele Faasi, Juan Schoeman tries; Curwin Bosch 2 cons, pen).
HT: 20-10

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission here.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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