Du’Plessis Kirifi scored a 74th-minute try as the Hurricanes battled back to beat the Waratahs 20-19 at the Brookvale Oval on Saturday.
The loose forward replacement stormed over from a rolling maul to win it for the 2016 champions after coming back from a nine-point deficit.
The match was a somewhat clumsy affair with both sides clearly still finding their feet after the off-season.
For all their attacking endeavour, the Waratahs lacked a cutting edge with ball in hand and failed to make good on a number of good chances.
The Hurricanes, missing a certain Beauden Barrett at first-five, overcame a series of unforced errors to eventually come out on top in Sydney.
The hosts enjoyed 75% of the territory inside the opening quarter and shot out to a 9-3 lead courtesy of three Bernard Foley-penalties, while Jordie Barrett converted one of his own.
The Canes struck just before the break when Ardie Savea barged over after some good phase play but another Foley three-pointer ensured the men in blue headed for the halftime oranges 12-10 to the good.
Israel Folau gathered a loose ball to put Curtis Rona away early in the second-half and extend their side’s advantage but another Barrett effort brought them back within seven.
Savea thought he had bagged his second after driving over again, but Kirifi was adjudged to have led with the elbow in the build-up and referee Angus Gardner overturned his initial decision and disallowed the try.
The 21-year-old – named after former Springbok skipper Morne du Plessis – made amends a few minutes later, though, when he scored the match-winner on his Super Rugby debut.
Foley had a chance to win it for the Tahs in the 79th-minute from virtually right out in front, but his penalty attempt was wide.
Point Scorers:
Waratahs
- Pen: Foley (4)
- Try: Rona
- Con: Foley
Hurricanes
- Pen: Barrett (2)
- Tries: Savea, Kirifi
- Con: Barrett (2)
Teams:
Waratahs
15 Israel Folau, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes
Substitutes: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Lachlan Swinton, 20 Will Miller, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Mack Mason, 23 Cam Clark
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 TJ Perenara (captain), 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Liam Mitchell, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves
Substitutes: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Ben May, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 James Marshall
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets
