Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has stormed over for a last-minute converted try to cap a miraculous 33-32 comeback victory over the Blues in their Super Rugby Pacific clash at Dunedin.
Trailling 32-14 with less than 10 minutes remaining, the team from the capital mounted a stunning comeback that saw winger Selesi Rayasi score the second and third tries of his hat-trick, before the skipper galloped down the sideline for the winner in the final seconds.
Replacement first-five Ruben Love still needed to convert from in front of the posts to seal the result and although the Blues raised some doubts about the ball splitting the uprights, those were eventually waved off by review and Hurricanes celebrations began.
"Lost for words," Savea admitted afterwards.
After their opening fixture was postponed, due to a COVID-19 outbreak among their Moana Pasifika opponents, the Blues began the encounter like they were let off the leash, with former NZ Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck making the most of his official rugby return.
The notherners dominated possession early and played the game at pace, but found themselves behind, when Rayasi pounced on a loose pass for an intercept try to open his account.
The Blues regained their momentum, as they mauled hooker Kurt Eklund across for two tries, while former All Black Caleb Clarke also celebrated his return from an unsuccessful Olympic sevens bid with a try. By halftime, they led 24-14, but had failed to fully capitalise on their strong start.
With 13 minutes left, they stretched their advantage to 18 points, when replacement lock Sam Darry scored and the Super Rugby Trans Tasman champions probably thought they could simply close out the contest.
No-one looked too alarmed, when Rayasi scored untouched with eight minutes remaining, but alarm bells began ringing, when he powered over in the corner for his third, with fulltime in sight, reaching between two tacklers, as he was driven into touch.
Love hit the upright with his sideline conversion, but the Hurricanes had a sniff and that was all they needed. They regained possession from kickoff and moved the ball right, where veteran prop Ben May put centre Bailyn Sullivan through a gap on halfway and Sullivan found his skipper lurking on the wing.
Savea somehow evaded a handful of defenders in his path to the line and rounded behind the posts, before diving gleefully to victory.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald threw his headphones in disgust at his side's capitulation, while counterpart Chris Gibbes punched the air triumphantly.
Hurricanes 33 (Rayasi 3, A Savea & Goosen tries, Barrett 2 conversions, Love 2 conversions) Blues 32 (Eklund 2, Darry & Clarke tries, Plummer 2 penalties & 3 conversions)
Join us at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Crusaders v Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacific clash
