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Hurricanes ruin Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's Blues debut with last-gasp try
The Hurricanes have ruined Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s Blues debut in stunning fashion by scoring a last-minute try through Ardie Savea to clinch a 33-32 win in Dunedin.
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Tuivasa-Sheck played a crucial role in the final play of the match as he missed a tackle on Hurricanes centre Bailyn Sullivan, who broke the line and ultimately set Savea away for his try down the right-hand flank.
Ruben Love’s conversion – which proved controversial as the Blues demanded the TMO check it despite it sailing through from right out in front – ensured the Hurricanes secured their first win over 2022, but it only came after a frantic final 10 minutes.
During that time, Hurricanes wing Salesi Rayasi scored two well-taken tries to complete a hat-trick and bring the Hurricanes to within touching distance despite trailing by 18 points as the clock ticked into the 70th minute.
Prior to his defensive mishap, Tuivasa-Sheck enjoyed a promising start to life in Super Rugby Pacific, impressing with ball in hand, but it wasn’t to be for the former NRL star, who showed glimpses of class in his opening half of action.
The 2018 Dally M Medallist’s power, footwork and offloading prowess was all on show as he worked well in tandem with fellow midfielder Rieko Ioane in a high-tempo fixture.
Tuivasa-Sheck naturally stole the limelight due to his stature as the biggest cross-code athlete since the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess, but he wasn’t the only star to shine.
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Blues lock Josh Goodhue had the game of his career in the second row, while Ioane and Blues wing Caleb Clarke both looked in fine touch, with the latter scoring his side’s second try after Kurt Eklund opened their account off the back of a rolling maul.
Eklund’s 23rd minute try, one of two he scored in the first half, came after Hurricanes flyer Salesi Rayasi picked off a Zarn Sullivan pass to score an unlikely long range try after the Blues dominated the opening passages of play.
Rayasi went on to play an integral role for the Hurricanes, strolling in untouched following some strong phase play by the Hurricanes late in the second half, before sensationally completing his hat-trick seven minutes later.
That – with the help of a Sam Darry try and an exchange of points through the boots of Harry Plummer, Jordie Barrett and Love, who was superb upon his induction into the match off the bench – helped pave the way for the match’s grandstand finish.
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Given the hype and anticipation surrounding the Blues this season, the result is likely to come as a shock to the rest of the competition and leaves the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman champions in search of their first win of the year.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, rise to sixth place after succumbing to defeat against the Crusaders last weekend, and will look to continue their hot game-finishing form into next Saturday’s clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Hurricanes 33 (Tries to Salesi Rayasi (3), Wes Goosen and Ardie Savea; 2 conversions to Jordie Barrett, 2 conversions to Ruben Love)
Blues 32 (Tries to Kurt Eklund (2), Caleb Clarke and Sam Darry; 3 conversions and 2 penalties to Harry Plummer)
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments