Twenty-year-old flyhalf Beauden Barrett kicked a 78th-minute penalty to snatch a 30-28 win for the Wellington Hurricanes over the Gauteng Lions in their Super Rugby match at Ellis Park on Friday.
Barrett, who was man-of-the-match in last weekend’s loss to the Stormers, kicked three other penalties and also played a key role in the Hurricanes’ third and final try.
Last year’s Junior World Championship winner put through a deft grubber, which wing Corey Jane gathered. Jane held off opposite number Deon van Rensburg to score the try and complete a crucial two-try burst in three minutes midway through the second half for the visitors.
Center Conrad Smith had moments earlier kicked through a dropped pass by the Lions and then rushed on to the bouncing ball and manufactured a brilliant crossfield kick-pass for hooker Dan Coles to complete the try.
“I do enjoy my soccer, so it was great to get a chance to show my skills,” Smith said. “But really, it was more because I couldn’t see myself running another 30m with the ball and I heard someone shout outside me. I just didn’t realize it was the hooker.”
The two tries put the Hurricanes in firm control at 27-18, but after conceding a penalty to Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies, they then made a complete hash of defending a rolling maul, allowing the home side to storm back into their territory.
From a ruck close to the try line, the strength of replacement center Butch James allowed him to barge over the line.
Jantjies converted to give the Lions a 28-27 lead, but with nine minutes still remaining, it was clear the Hurricanes would surge back.
The Lions were unfortunate to lose two props, J.C. Janse van Rensburg and C.J. van der Linde, to injuries in the first half-hour, which meant uncontested scrums and the loss of one of their main weapons.
The Hurricanes were consequently under no pressure at the set-piece and, having dominated the breakdowns, were able to rumble the ball upfield in the closing minutes, eventually catching the Lions backline offside and allowing Barrett his match-winning kick at goal.
“We were scrumming very well and it made the contest different- we couldn’t add pressure and take energy out of their legs through that route, but we should have finished the contest, we had the opportunity and we just weren’t very smart,” Lions coach John Mitchell said.
Lions fullback Jaco Taute scored the opening try in the ninth minute when he reached over in the left corner, after Hurricanes scrumhalf Chris Eaton had dropped the kickoff following Barrett’s opening penalty.
Barrett added two more penalties in the first half before the Hurricanes went into the break up 14-8 after fullback Andre Taylor had squeezed over in the right corner.
“I’m really pleased, we planned well and we have a very fit team. Playing on the Highveld can eat away at you, but I knew the boys would last for the last 25 and they showed great composure too,” Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett said.
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