Hurricanes outdazzled by Highlanders display of thinking rugby

Nick Evans leaves the Hurricanes defence in his wake. Picture / Fotopress

The Highlanders bucked convention outdazzling the Kings of the CakeTin last night.

For large chunks of the Super 12, the Highlanders have been depicted as a strong-willed, determined group of men not known for any great panache, who make their opponents graft for every point.

But last night they stunned the Hurricanes with early expansive tactics, a gamble which produced two superb tries before they settled into their more traditional style as they gnawed away at the hosts.

It was a triumph for thinking rugby, a victory for tactical balance in a week when assistant All Black coach Wayne Smith had bemoaned the robotic nature of some of the nation's rugby.

The Highlanders had to endure a nerve-jangling final quarter. But they stayed calm, they pinched a lineout near their own line, superb loosies Josh Blackie and Craig Newby foraged downtown before Nick Evans dropped a 40m goal to seal the match.

The Highlanders had never travelled north and beaten the Hurricanes but their rare victory last night elevated them to second place in the competition.

It was a spectacular start from the Highlanders. In the first minute they forced a turnover which Glen Horton converted when he scored at the end of multiple phases across the park.

They repeated the dose inside the first quarter when Josh Blackie palmed off his opposite Ben Herring as they again switched the attack to the flanks.

With their scrum omnipotent and for variety, Nick Evans gliding and probing for gaps closer to the breakdowns, the Highlanders had a strong clamp on the game.

A couple of times the Hurricanes replied but it was opportunist stuff.

No 8 Rodney So'oialo surged from one scrum in a long burst before it petered out and then fullback Shannon Paku weaved out of his 22 in the Hurricanes most lethal moment of the half. Paku found captain Tana Umaga but his pass went astray.

Explosive wing Ma'a Nonu got the Hurricanes within a point when he beat four defenders in a remarkable show of speed and power from halfway with the impressive newcomer Jimmy Gopperth converting from the sideline.

It set up a marvellous final quarter as the Highlanders defence held, just, as the Hurricanes tried all of their inventive repertoire.

Highlanders 26 (G Horton, J Blackie, tries; B Blair 2 con, N Evans 3 pen, dropped goal.)
Hurricanes 16 (M Nonu, try, J Gopperth, 3 pen, con)
Halftime 14-6