Hurricanes make it three in a row

First five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth scored 24 points as the Hurricanes secured their third win from as many away Super 12 rugby matches with a 29-23 win over the Sharks in Durban today.

Both teams scored two tries each but it was Gopperth's kicking - five penalties and two conversions - that proved decisive.

His 65th minute try and conversion followed by a fifth penalty goal saw the Hurricanes pull away to a 29-9 lead.

The Sharks scored two converted tries by winger Henno Mentz and centre Adrian Jacobs within four minutes of each other in the last 10 minutes but time ran out for them.

"They were pretty determined," So'oialo told Sky Sports after the Sharks' comeback to close the gap to six points and earn a bonus point.

"It's hard for any team to play here but we're quite happy and relieved to get two wins from two here."

Fullback Ricki Flutey, who set up his team's first try with a well-weighted kick and was awarded the man-of-the-match by the South Africans, said being away from home for about four weeks was hard on the players.

"We're just looking forward to going back home to be with our families. This week was getting pretty tough but we kept talking among ourselves saying we'll get the job done and then go home."

The Hurricanes absorbed an enormous amount of early pressure, trailed 6-0 after a dropped goal from Herkie Kruger and a penalty by Butch James.

But fought back to tie the game 9-9 at halftime after Jimmy Gopperth kicked three penalties.

Gopperth kicked a fourth penalty shortly after halftime before flanker Ben Herring scored the game's opening try in 57th minute.

So'oialo helped turn over possession from winger Odwa Ngdungane close to the line. The Hurricanes hammered the stubborn Sharks defence and it was not until the ball was moved to the backs that the Hurricanes found their way to the line.

Flutey took a pass from halfback Isaac Boss and floated a high cross kick, which flanker Herring just managed to catch and plant down before stepping over the dead-ball line.

"I looked up and saw Ben on the far end and he was signalling to me to kick over," Flutey said.

Gopperth converted the try and then scored himself when the Hurricanes moved the ball around with Tana Umaga, who came off the bench, Flutey, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith handling.

Gopperth kicked the conversion and added another penalty for the Hurricanes to skip to a 29-9 lead.

The Sharks came back with two quick tries, the first following a brilliant 50m run by Mentz past three defenders, including Flutey.

Then Gopperth spilled the ball in a tackle and Jacobs snatched it up and raced away, with James adding the conversions for both tries.


Hurricanes halfback Isaac Boss said starting the game in wet conditions and against the wind meant it took a while for his team to settle.


"We were up against it for the first 20 minutes or so. We made a few mistakes and that didn't help but our defence, I thought, was outstanding because we absorbed a lot of pressure and came back to get a few penalties," he told NZPA.


"This week was the hardest of the time we've had away from home on this trip and everybody's body language was sort of saying 'can't wait to get home'.


"But we held in there. There was a bit of work put in for us to finish the job off and go home happy, and we've done that.


"We kept saying we want four or five points from this game."


Boss said the team felt the Sharks defence was starting to crack early in the second half so they decided to keep the ball in hand and attack up the middle.


"Our forwards worked pretty hard. It may not have looked that way from the sidelines but these guys gave everything they had. They were getting off the deck quickly and getting back to make sure we kept the pressure on."


Boss, who replaced All Blacks Piri Weepu for the game, said he felt he had a solid all round match but there was still room for improvement in his option taking.


The Hurricanes return home on Monday and meet the Bulls in the fourth round in Wellington next Saturday.


Hurricanes 29 (Ben Herring, Jimmy Gopperth tries; Gopperth 5 pen, 2 con)

Sharks 23 (Henno Mentz, Adrian Jacobs tries; Butch James 2 pen, 2 con; Herkie Kruger dropped goal).

Halftime: 9-9.

- NZPA