Hurricanes end Crusaders unbeaten run

The Hurricanes have defeated the previously unbeaten Crusaders 31-22 in Wellington, saving themselves a quarter-final trip to Cape Town.

The Hurricanes have booked a Super Rugby quarter-final date with the Brumbies in Canberra after scoring a 31-22 win over the previously unbeaten Crusaders in Saturday's Kiwi derby in Wellington.

Despite being dominated for large chunks of the match, the Hurricanes were able to peg back a 12-7 half-time deficit and score three second-half tries to win.

The victory sets the match for Friday night at GIO Stadium.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, will play the Stormers in Cape Town next week.

"The boys just kept in there," Hurricanes skipper TJ Perenara said after the match.

"We grouped together, came back and put in a good performance."

Missing their all-Test front row of Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks, the Crusaders nevertheless enjoyed all the running in a one-sided first half.

Targeting Julian Savea's left-edge defence, Crusaders five-eighth Richie Mo'unga helped Seta Tamanivalu get over the line twice within 15 minutes.

Down 12-7 at the break, the Hurricanes edged in front soon after the restart via a quick-thinking Savea, who batted down a cross-field kick to himself, before a Mo'unga penalty goal for the Crusaders.

In the seesawing 20 minutes that followed, Israel Dagg extended the Crusaders' advantage, before quick-fire tries Wes Goosen and Vaea Fifita returned the lead to the Hurricanes.

Having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat so often in 2017, the Crusaders never looked completely out of the hunt.

But a penalty against Scott Barrett for coming off his feet gave brother Jordie the chance to put the match away, and he did so.


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Source: AAP



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