'That was challenging': Hurricanes go joint-top with win over Highlanders

Winger Salesi Rayasi has scored two tries for the Hurricanes in their 29-14 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Highlanders to take them joint-top with the Chiefs.

It was 8-7 to the visitors after a drab first half on Saturday in Dunedin, full of errors by both teams and interventions by the referee.

Rayasi scored the game’s first try in the 14th minute after the Hurricanes had attacked through 16 phases, finally creating space for the big winger.

The Highlanders replied with a try to No.8 Hugh Renton who detached from a five-metre scrum and strolled over. A penalty to Jordie Barrett separated the teams at the break.

The Canes managed to score two quick tries at the start of the second half.

Lock Jamie Blackwell got their second after good lead-up work by centre Billy Proctor and halfback Cam Roigard.

Roigard scored himself three minutes later and the Hurricanes had the comfort of a 22-7 lead, which became 29-7 when Rayasi crossed for his second after a good break by replacement No.9 Jamie Booth.

The hosts had the final say with a 75th-minute try to captain Billy Harmon but it wasn’t enough to stop the Hurricanes winning their sixth in seven matches this season.

“That was challenging, it was tough and we had to go to the well,” Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea said.

“That first half was tough and I was just proud of the boys to come back in the second half and really nail the simple things and get it done.”