highlanders vs hurricanes 2015 final
18 mins: Surely something’s gotta give? 8 Comments on Super Rugby 2015 Final: Hurricanes vs Highlanders Prediction The 2015 Super Rugby final pits the two most entertaining and, quite frankly, deserving teams against each other in what should be a mouth-watering encounter in Wellington. Not that you’d expect any less. However, slowing down his ball by dominating the collisions with the Highlanders forwards would seem the obvious place to start. The pressure finally tells, a just reward for the hosts although they were made to work very, very hard to get there. It was the 20th final in the Super Rugby competition's history and the fifth under the expanded 15-team format. Elliot Dixon will play his 50th Super Rugby game for the Highlanders, capping off a great season for the Southland loose forward who was also named in the Maori All Blacks team earlier this week. Here are the line-ups. The Highlanders are 2015 Super Rugby champions after beating the Hurricanes 21-14 in the capital. 77 mins: Banks with more fancy footwork again after deciding not to go for the field goal. 61 mins: Dear oh dear! They controlled possession from the next re-start and outstanding halfback Aaron Smith booted the ball far into touch as the fulltime whistle sounded. Richard Buckman, 13. Highlanders to face Hurricanes Updated Wycliff Palu lifts Malakai Fekitoa during the Super Rugby semi-final between the NSW Waratahs and the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. Several times the Hurricanes went close to opening the game up by going wide and several times the Highlanders put boot to ball and peppered the Hurricanes with well-directed kicks in general play. On home turf and after losing just two games all year, the Canes are favourites, but that won’t bother the Highlanders. The Hurricanes have started their season with a 31 – 16 loss to the Blues at Sky Stadium. The Hurricanes have kept their title hopes alive with a thrilling bonus point… ROUND 8: Highlanders v Blues (Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa) The Blues are still in … With an astute tactical kicking game, the ability to build and maintain pressure with ball in hand and resilient defence, the Highlanders won their first Super Rugby title. Those 80 minutes just flew by. Highlanders steal a lineout 10m out and suddenly they’re looking for a try of their own. 66 mins: Barrett with the boot to bring the margin back to four. And so with the obligatory New Zealand references to Tolkien out of the way, we can turn to business. 9 mins: Neither side slacking on intensity. 38 mins: As is the way with this game, the Highlanders immediately go back on the offensive and only some great defending from the Canes keeps them out. 39 mins: Dixon pulls three players over the line and forces the ball down, but Milner-Skudder’s heel is in the way. Sopoaga hits the wrong side of the upright with the conversion. Nick Kyrgios accidentally throwing a stick at some fans, his best impression of the “Eye of Sauron, Highlanders crowned Super Rugby champions for first time. Surprised it’s not higher. Barrett grabbed three points back straightaway in the second half with a penalty to make it 13-8. Another penalty and the Hurricanes kick deep into Highlanders territory for a lineout. The Hurricanes have been the competition benchmark for the entirety of the 2015 Super Rugby season but undoubtedly face their toughest task to date in the in-form Highlanders, who have peaked in condition … No. They’re right on the Highlanders’ try line now but their overeagerness leads to a penalty. The Hurricanes play host to the Highlanders in Saturday's 2015 Super Rugby final, with each team looking to enter its name into the history books. The Highlanders end their Super Rugby Aotearoa final weekend on a triumph, drawing the inaugural tournament to a close with a 38-21 defeat to The Hurricanes. The angle is no problem and it just has enough legs to get over. 14 mins: The Highlanders hold on in the scrum and win a penalty of their own to release the pressure. 1.Reggie Goodes, 2.Dane Coles, 3.Ben Franks, 4.Jeremy Thrush, 5.James Broadhurst, 6.Brad Shields, 7. Sopoaga doubles the Highlanders’ advantage. 16 mins: This is tense. 37 mins: Nonu charges over the line right in the corner from a scrum. 47 mins: Superb try from the Highlanders. FINAL FRIDAY 3 JULY Road to The Final Hurricanes v Highlanders ( Link2 ) (19:35 NZST, 17:35 AEST, 9:35 SAST, 8:35 BST, 3:35 EST) &a... 2015 New Zealand Tour [Full Match] 2016 Super Rugby Round 5 Hurricanes vs Kings The Canes need a converted try but the Highlanders have been immense all game. The Canes gaining big metres against a tired-looking Highlanders. The final win reversed two close losses to the Hurricanes in 2015 and was their fifth consecutive win at Westpac Stadium against Hurricanes teams. The key for the Hurricanes is to disrupt half-back Aaron Smith. On the half hour mark, fullback James Marshall set in motion a blistering 80-metre Hurricanes counter-attacking movement, fielding a kick and linking up with his support players including second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu and right wing Nehe Milner-Skudder. The Canes are right on the line. The Highlanders reach the 5m line only for the Hurricanes to turn it around and go up the other end. The Hurricanes nabbed the lineout ball, the pack drove towards the line and they were awarded a 5-metre scrum. Brendon Edmonds, 2. Huzzahs. The 2015 Super Rugby season will officially draw to a close this weekend when the Hurricanes and Highlanders lock horns in Saturday’s decider in Wellington at 5:35pm AEST. Sopoaga’s off the pitch too, with a knock. Seven minutes left. The Hurricanes must be shellshocked. 75 mins: Time is short but it’s a brave fan who calls this one. Sopoaga kicked the conversion and they led 13-5 at halftime. 64 mins: The home crowd can smell blood. It’s win-win. Surely that spells box office gold. Give me a few minutes to catch my breath and I’ll be back soon. He’ll be along shortly, so while you’re waiting why not have a read of Rajiv Maharaj’s preview of today’s showpiece event? 54 mins: Highlanders punished for not releasing. First published on Sat 4 Jul 2015 07.50 BST. And we’re off again. 42 mins: Early penalty and Barrett just makes the kick, although it looked like it was drifting right for a second there. The Hurricanes team that played the Highlanders was: 1.Reggie Goodes Replaced by Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 53rd minute2.Dane Coles3.Ben Franks Replaced by Chris Eves, 53rd minute4.Jeremy Thrush5.James Broadhurst6.Brad Shields7.Callum Gibbins Replaced by Blade Thomson, 52nd minute8.Victor Vito9.TJ Perenara10.Beauden Barrett11.Julian Savea12.Ma'a Nonu13.Conrad Smith (c)14.Nehe Milner-Skudder Replaced by Matt Proctor 70th minute15.James MarshallReserves16.Motu Matu'u17.Chris Eves Replaced by Ben May, 72nd minute 18.Jeffery Toomaga-Allen19. The Highlanders won a tense and willing final 21-14, with replacement first five-eighth Marty Banks sealing victory late … Sopoaga lines it up. Both sides running at each other, just one defensive error or slip and it’s try time. The Highlanders turn it over, though, and the Canes are forced to sprint back to receive the kick. 40 mins: Sopaoga boots the conversion from the corner and that’s it for the half. 26 mins: Hurricanes over the ball and it’s another kick for the Highlanders. This half has absolutely flown by. Super … Round 4 vs… 3 mins: None of the early nerves that ruined the Waratahs’ start last weekend. Fri, 27 May 2016 Highlanders v Hurricanes 20-27 Wellington Sat, 05 Mar 2016 Highlanders v Hurricanes 17-16 Dunedin Sat, 04 Jul 2015 Final Highlanders v Hurricanes 21-14 Wellington 45 mins: The Highlanders hustle and bustle their way right up to the end of the pitch, despite some HUGE crunching tackles from the Canes they hold onto it. 52 mins: The Hurricanes must be wondering what they’ve done wrong to be 10 points behind. 60 mins: Lineout to the Highlanders 20m from their own line... and they fluff it. Your support powers our independent journalism, Available for everyone, funded by readers. The Highlanders established a 10-point lead early in the second half when wing Waisake Naholo crossed in the corner, which they protected over the remainder of the match. 21 mins: This is brutal. 62 mins: Great clearance from Aaron Smith under pressure. Callum Gibbins, 8.Victor Vito, 9.TJ Perenara, 10.Beauden Barrett, 11.Julian Savea, 12.Ma’a Nonu, 13.Conrad Smith (c), 14.Nehe Milner-Skudder, 15.James Marshall, 1. Highlanders 21-14. Savea had it on a plate, the extra man in the corner... but he fumbles the final pass and a certain try goes begging. Sopoaga missed a penalty chance, ahead of the Hurricanes missing a try-scoring chance in the players' tunnel corner after they stole a Highlanders lineout and spun it wide to left wing Julian Savea who failed to collect a pass by flanker Brad Shields. 58 mins: Ben Smith with a knock on and the Hurricanes have the ball about 35m from the Highlanders’ line. Highlanders 18-11, 67th: Beauden Barrett penalty. The Hurricanes’ 19 wins out of 33 matches gives them a record of winning 57% of their matches against the Highlanders regardless of venue. Naholo with the finishing touch. 7 mins: The Hurricanes immediately look to hit back, pushing and probing until the Highlanders give away a penalty. The Hurricanes fell at the last hurdle of the 2015 Investec Super Rugby competition, beaten by the Highlanders in Saturday night's all-New Zealand final in Wellington. The Hurricanes have named an unchanged side for the final although Ardie Savea faces a lat fitness test on his knee. This is electric. Scoring wise, Highlanders first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga opened the scoring with a 40 metre penalty, and Hurricanes pivot Beauden Barrett missed two consecutive long-range attempts in riposte. The Hurricanes fell at the last hurdle of the 2015 Investec Super Rugby competition, beaten by the Highlanders in Saturday night's all-New Zealand final in Wellington. Hurricanes 14 (Ma'a Nonu try; Beauden Barrett 3 pen) lost to the Highlanders 21 (Elliot Dixon, Waisake Naholo tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 pen, con; Marty Banks dropped goal). Get a summary of the Hurricanes vs Highlanders, Super Rugby 2015 4 Jul, 2015 rugby match. 79 mins: Is that it? Blimey. The pressure’s still on though. He needed that. Don’t get out of your seats, this one looks like it will go right to the wire. Barrett lines it up from distance and skews it just left of the posts. Halfback TJ Perenara ran back a kick in general play and was bundled into touch near the corner flag. Get a summary of the Hurricanes vs Highlanders, Super Rugby 2015 4 Jul, 2015 rugby match. Great stuff. Some big hits already, Osborne barrelled off the pitch. From one side of the pitch to the other and back again. Mark Abbott20.Blade Thomson21.Chris Smylie22.Rey Lee-Lo23.Matt Proctor. The Highlanders take the break to catch their breaths, hands on heads all round. They run the clock down then boot the ball into touch to cement a maiden title. 70 mins: Perenara refuses to go down despite some fierce shoves and bumps. Ardie Savea has lost his race for fitness, otherwise it’s as expected. Possession stats show the ball has been in Highlanders’ half for 82 per cent of the last 10 minutes. Savea can’t hold onto it and the Highlanders can breathe again. Highlanders 13-8, 48th: Waisake Naholo try. In a repeat of the 2015 final the Hurricanes managed to return the favour with a last minute 27-20 win over the Highlanders. They manage to hold one up but the ref calls it back for an earlier offside against the Highlanders. 12 mins: The Hurricanes pile on the pressure from the scrum, desperate defending from the Highlanders. Smith is too good to take down as an individual behind a pack holding parity. Just when it looks like try time, Savea makes an awesome block. They need it because you can bet your last NZ dollar the Canes will hit back. This was the first Super Rugby final between two New Zealand teams since 2006 when the Hurricanes were beaten by the Crusaders. Jamie Joseph’s side have been written off as underdogs so often this season he’s started feeding them Pedigree Chum as a pre-match meal. So a Hurricanes vs Highlanders Super 15 final is the ideal for me – I’l be happy with whomever wins. Richard is the man tasked with keeping you up to date with proceedings in Wellington tonight. Just. Who else? Canes piling on the pressure from the turnover. 80 mins: They’ve done it! They also happen to be the competition’s two most exciting teams. Aaron Smith, 10. The 2015 Super Rugby Final, was played between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders. Highlanders 18-14, 78th: Marty Banks dropped goal. Highlanders under some pressure. We’ll find out shortly. Can they keep up that intensity for another 40 minutes? Somehow. 76 mins: So close! Maintaining this pressure, the Hurricanes had a penalty awarded to them in good position and Barrett kicked it, to now make it 18-14 with 13 minutes remaining. James Lentjes, 8. Ben Smith (cc). About the 50m line, but pretty central. But the Highlanders got themselves back up the other end of the field, and after two attempts to set him up for one, they presented Banks with a winning drop goal attempt. Live score: Super Rugby final - Hurricanes v Highlanders July 4, 2015 — 5.52pm Save Log in, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Their legs might be weary, but they’re still sharp upstairs. This is the biggest clash in New Zealand since the Uruk-Hai attacked Helm’s Deep. What a game. Just a few little mistakes creeping in. Or win-win-win if you’re a Kiwi fan. The 27-year-old loose forward is as likeable... Hurricanes squad named to face Crusaders in Christchurch. Neither side giving an inch... not that the Highlanders have an inch to give. High intensity from both sides early on. The crowd have sensed a shift in momentum. They need something from this. 32 mins: The Hurricanes are desperate for something. This is excellent rugby. Savea almost breaks through the Highlanders line but is dragged down. In what was a surprise for many rugby supporters, the Otago side saved their best performance on their last fixture at home, in front of an empty Forsyth Barr Stadium. Conversion missed. I can feel the arthritis taking root. Alex Ainley, 5. The Hurricanes weren't able to send departing players Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Jeremy Thrush Chris Smylie, Rey Lee-Lo and Ben Franks off on a winning note as the visiting side out-scored them two tries to one. 23 mins: Penalty to the Hurricanes and Barrett skews it just wide again from an angle. Very few mistakes, but the Highlanders have just been ferocious in defence and ruthless in attack. This was the fifth occasion where the away team won the Super Rugby final and the first time in eight occasions. The Highlanders (formerly the Otago Highlanders and currently known as the Pulse Energy Highlanders for sponsorship reasons[1]) is a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The Canes are pressing but the Highlanders are matching everything they throw at them. Barrett was successful with his second strike of the second half, from a wide angle, and the lead was now 18-11 with 25 minutes remaining. Crowd: 36,38. The Highlanders were almost flawless throughout, whether it be their desperate defending, ruthless attack, or smarts around the set-pieces. Hurricanes straight on the attack after some sustained Highlanders pressure. Nonu and Smith ended their Hurricanes careers with a joint record 126 appearances for the Hurricanes, Thrush ended with 110 caps for the Hurricanes and the most by a forward, while halfback TJ Perenara and first five-eighth Beauden Barrett played their 50th match together as an inside back combination. Waisake Naholo, 15. Highlanders Vs. Hurricanes 2015 Super Rugby Tournament, 21 March, 2015 Forsyth Barr Stadium, University Plaza, Dunedin Hurricanes 20 defeated Highlanders 13 Highlanders Hurricanes 1 3 FINAL … HT: 6-5. Nasi Manu (cc), 9. © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Both sides playing running rugby and hitting on the counter-attack. If anyone even thinks about calling them underdogs again next season they want their head examined. Super Rugby final: Hurricanes v Highlanders from Wellington’s Westpac Stadium Super Rugby July 4, 2015 9:43pm by Daniel Gilhooly Source: AAP … Game on. The Highlanders established an attacking pattern up inside the Hurricanes' 22, ripping it wide to right wing Waisake Naholo to score in the corner to make it 18-8. First throw to the Highlanders from the kick-off about 22m out. They’re suddenly in full voice. The movement was check inside the Highlanders' 22, but centre Conrad Smith almost broke free in a dart to the chalk and the ball was subsequently knocked on at the next ruck. Super Rugby quarter-final as it happened: Crusaders v Highlanders 21 Jun, 2019 07:14 AM 4 minutes to read Crusaders take on the Highlanders, Chiefs vs Jaguares, Hurricanes vs … Clock is ticking for the Canes... 72 mins: Great defence from the Highlanders, failing to engage at the lineout and winning a turnover as a result as they harry the Canes. Hurricanes vs. Highlanders Fri 30 Apr 7:05pm (NZ) Buy Tickets Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Fixtures 2021 Round 1 TBC Waratahs vs. Hurricanes Fri 14 May 9:45pm (NZ) Round 2 Sky Stadium, Wellington vs. The Highlanders ahead but it’s the Hurricanes asking most of the questions. Right in the middle. They just need to hold on for another 60 seconds-plus. It goes upstairs and... it’s a try. 43 mins: The Hurricanes are on a mission this half. For once the grand final produced a game worthy of the name Super Rugby, with both sides showing their intensity and desire from the first kick. 73 mins: Just seen the time. The Hurricanes were called back for three denied tries and Highlanders pushed out in the second half against the tiring visitors for a 38-21 win. The Hurricanes have played the Highlanders 33 times in Super Rugby since 1996, the Hurricanes have won 19 matches and lost 14 times. Highlanders 13-5, 4nd: Beauden Barrett penalty. Elliot Dixon, 7. A handful of tweaks have been made to the Hurricanes starting line-up ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch. The Highlanders survived that intense spell of pressure with their lead still intact but just one mistake from a pair of tired legs and that’s it. The Highlanders won a tense and willing final 21-14, with replacement first five-eighth Marty Banks sealing victory late in the match with a drop goal. Scrum to the visitors 5m out from their own line. First few signs of fatigue? 8 Victor Vito took the ball off the back of the scrum and ran openside. 1 mins: Peeeeep! 4 mins: First blood to the visitors. Fully deserved. On a selfish level, I hope not because my fingers can’t take much more of this. They’ve somehow managed to step up their intensity... but the Highlanders are equal to it and manage to win a penalty to relieve the pressure. Viewers were treated to plenty of action from kick-off,... Rugby fan or not, you would be hard-pressed to find a New Zealander who doesn’t know about Ardie Savea. Liam Coltman, 3. After bursting on to the scene for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby 2019, the energetic flanker has caught the eye of rugby fans with his ability to get over the ball and handy support lines. Still just the three points scored. 19 mins: Drop kick from Sopoaga but it’s wide. Even Highlanders skipper Nasi Manu has been doing his best impression of the “Eye of Sauron” all week. And it’s Independence Day. The forwards recycled and spun the ball back to the blindside for second five-eighth Nonu to race in and score his 48th Super Rugby try for the Hurricanes in the corner to close the margin to 6-5. The Highlanders were in for all money as Banks opts to run instead of kick. The Canes needed a break. 56 mins: The Highlanders get a chance to hit back immediately from a 42m penalty but Sopoaga skews it wide. 29 mins: The Hurricanes batter away at the Highlanders’ 22m line from the restart. Highlanders 11-5, 41st (first): Lima Sopoaga conversion. The fifth week of Super Rugby Aotearoa will wrap up with the unconvincing Hurricanes hosting a Highlanders team coming off two losses. Sopoaga with a penalty slightly right of the posts. A six forward and two back split on the reserves bench will give the hard working Highlanders' forward pack plenty of firepower for the final. Mark Reddish, 6. Join The Roar for live scores and a … First published on Sat 4 Jul 2015 02.50 EDT Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Key events Show 5.36am EDT 05:36 Final thoughts 5.19am EDT 05:19 Full-time: Hurricanes … All rights reserved. It could still go either way. The Highlanders' heroes have heaped heartbreak on the Hurricanes with a … The ball is all over the pitch, one minute Osborne is running into Shields’ shoulder, the next Nonu is battering through the Highlanders line. 41 mins: Peeeeep! RugbyPass will be streaming the entire Super Rugby Aotearoa season in over 100 countries, including the UK, France and Ireland. Can they upset the odds one last time and beat the Canes? The Hurricanes lost the 2006 Super 14 final 19-12 to the Crusaders in Christchurch and the Highlanders lost the 1999 Super 12 final 19-24 to the Crusaders. Incredible game. 50 mins: Bit of breathing space for the Highlanders now.