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Highlanders hit back to blow away Hurricanes

By Rob Lancaster

The Highlanders ended a three-match losing run against the Hurricanes with a 30-14 triumph at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.

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Jeff Toomaga-Allen’s 50th-minute try – converted by Beauden Barrett – put the visitors 14-13 ahead, only for the Highlanders to hit back with 17 unanswered points in the closing quarter of the contest.

Tyrel Lomax and Waisake Naholo both touched down to send the Highlanders into the international break on a winning note.

They also remain unbeaten at their Dunedin fortress this season, despite struggling in the opening half and seeing back-rower Liam Squire sent to the sin bin in the 38th minute.

After Lima Sopoaga kicked the hosts ahead with an early penalty, the Hurricanes hit the front thanks to a converted score from Jordie Barrett.

However, Squire’s yellow card for a high tackle seemed to wake up the snoozing Highlanders, who scored tries through Tevita Li and Aaron Smith either side of half-time while temporarily down to 14 men.

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They fell behind again when a turnover allowed Toomaga-Allen to cross, yet the Hurricanes struggled for attacking momentum as they slipped to back-to-back Super Rugby defeats on the road.

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Prop Lomax plunged over by the posts to reclaim the lead before a stunning move involving both backs and forwards created space out wide for wing Naholo to sprint in at the corner.

Sopoaga added both conversions, as well as a 73rd-minute penalty, as the Highlanders moved up to third in the New Zealand Conference, 10 points behind the table-topping Crusaders.

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Ed the Duck 6 hours ago
How Leinster neutralised 'long-in-the-tooth' La Rochelle

Hey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂

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