It turns out having a player sent to the sin bin late in a rugby game doesn't do you any favours. Who knew?
Wellington were made to pay for Mateaki Kafatolu's 69th minute yellow card against Auckland in Wellington last night, with a late surge giving the visitors a 29-24 win.
Kafatolu was shown a ticket to the sin bin for a lifting tackle. At the time, Wellington looked set to close out a match they probably deserved to win with a handy 24-17 lead.
But back to back tries to Salesi Rayasi and Jordan Trainor in the moments following the card gave Auckland the lead inside the final 10 minutes which they never relinquished. Trainor's effort was particularly memorable, as some scrambling passing play near their own goal line saw the ball go to ground, only to be picked up in the midfield for Trainor to be put into the clear.
It was a result that slipped through the fingers of the home side, who looked like the better side for 70 of the 80 minutes. Still susceptible at the scrum, they controlled possession and the territory battle so their vulnerability at the set piece didn't come into play in the opening 40. Two impressive solo efforts to Tumua Manu and TJ Faiane kept Auckland in the match, though Wellington looked comfortably in control.
