Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea was both hero and villian, as his side barely survived for a shaky 39-33 win over the fast-finishing Melbourne Rebels at Super Rugby Pacific's 'Super Round'.
Ahead 24-7 approaching halftime, the Wellington-based team successfully sacked a dangerous Rebels maul near their own goal-line, but both teams converged to exchange insults.
While the incident appeared to begin with Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles and Rebels lock James Canham, Savea's involvement became the subject of referee James Doleman's review and he was eventually yellow-carded for his troubles.
As he left the field, Savea exchanged more heated words with Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens, gesticulating with a throat-slitting action.
With their captain already sitting on the sideline to start the second half, the Hurricanes then lost prop Tevita Mafileo for a late head contact on Rebels No.8 Richard Hardwick. Under new rules, his offence was reviewed and upgraded to a red card, leaving his side with only 13 players for eight minutes, until Savea returned.
During that time, momentum switched to the home side, who took advantage of their numbers to score a try through winger Lachie Anderson, before a runaway try to first-five Carter Gordon, converted by Reece Hodge, brought them within striking distance of the Hurricanes.
The Kiwis seemed to steady the ship with a try to winger Salesi Rayasi, converted from wide out by Jordie Barrett, but two tries to Hardwick had Melbourne within a point with five minutes to play.
Barrett provided the matchwinning try, crossing in the corner, but unable to convert from the sideline, so his team had to survive a few anxious moments, before they found touch from a scrum to end the game.
"First and foremost, it was their discipline that kept them in the game and that probably starts with me," admitted Savea. "As the leader, I have to show the way... it started with me and then we got another yellow card, so things got a bit disrupted.
"Apologies... it was just the heat of the moment, the heat of the game."
Before his expulsion, Savea had been largely responsible for the Hurricanes' comfortable lead, scoring two tries and providing a try assist on a third by fullback Josh Moorby.
His leadership probably helped them halt the late slide, but his conduct may yet draw more scrutiny from the SANZAAR judiciary.
The result means the Hurricanes have added a second trans-Tasman scalp to their 2023 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, after dispatching Queensand Reds in their competition opener.
They face the Blues at Wellington next Saturday.
Hurricanes 39 (A Savea 2, Rayasi, Barrett & Moorby tries; Barrett 2 conversions & 2 penalties) Melbourne Rebels 33 (Hardwick 2, Wilkin, Gordon & Anderson tries; Hodge 4 conversions)
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