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Auckland bounce back with half-century win over Manawatu
Simon Hickey celebrated his milestone provincial match with two tries as Auckland responded from last week’s deflating defeat to trounce Manawatu 50-12 at a deserted Eden Park.
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Hickey’s half-century has been a long time coming. The diminutive playmaker is back in the blue and white hoops after five years in the Northern Hemisphere, where he spent time in France and Scotland.
Hickey has signed to play for the Hurricanes next season but on Sunday afternoon, in front of fewer than 100 supporters, the 26-year-old showed his poise to regularly challenge the line, deliver try assists and calmly direct Auckland to a win that was never in doubt.
In the eight-tries-to-two romp Hickey helped spark Auckland’s potent attacking ability to collect 22 points and steer Alama Ieremia’s side to a 16th successive victory over Manawatu, who remain winless this season.
Auckland squandered a number of try-scoring chances through impatience and individual white line fever in the first half in particular but their second victory from three attempts is a step in the right direction following last week’s 34-15 home defeat to Wellington.
It was good week in the Taranaki… But it's over now. #TARvOTA#RanfurlyShield https://t.co/sWEbfA7MoL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 27, 2020
It also came in a different context, with the bulk of the All Blacks no longer available for provincial duties.
Auckland were vastly improved from last week’s effort against Wellington – far more committed defensively while their dominant scrum set the platform for the backline to run rampant. They will, however, face much tougher tests this season.
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Enjoying front-foot ball throughout dynamic wings AJ Lam, who claimed two tries, and Salesi Rayasi impressed on the edges. All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu delivered a telling cameo off the bench in the second half.
Four first-half tries – to Lam, Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, Hickey and Rayasi – pushed Auckland out to a commanding 26-5 halftime advantage after they made the most of a big breeze in the first spell.
Manawatu did not help their cause, conceding two yellow cards in the first half. Lock Paulo Teofilo was fortunate not to cop a red card after he flattened Jordan Trainor with what appeared a shoulder to the head after the Auckland fullback spilt the ball in the ninth minute. Referee Dan Waenga deemed Trainor’s ducking motion saved Teofilo from being sent off.
Loosehead prop Tietie Tuimauga received the second yellow card for repeat scrum infringements but wing Adam Boult pulled off a superb finish to claim Manawatu’s first try while the visitors were reduced to 13 men.
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Once restored to their full contingent Manawatu managed to claim the final try but, on this occasion, they were never in the same league.
Auckland 50 (AJ Lam 2, Simon Hickey 2, Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, Salesi Rayasi, Blake Gibson, Jordan Trainor tries; Hickey 5 cons)
Manawatu 12 (Adam Boult, Sam Stewart tries; B Wyness con)
HT: 26-5
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments