All Blacks duo shine as Hurricanes continue fine Super Rugby Pacific form with big win over Rebels

David Skippers
TJ Perenara and Jordie Barrett Hurricanes SRP image.jpg

All Blacks scrum-half TJ Perenara and inside centre Jordie Barrett starred for the Hurricanes against the Rebels.

All Blacks duo TJ Perenara and Jordie Barrett were two of the Hurricanes’ stars as they continued their excellent start to the Super Rugby Pacific season when they cruised to a 54-28 bonus-point victory over the Melbourne Rebels.

Perenara and Barrett, who both returned to action recently after respective injury and suspension lay-offs, were in fine form for the tournament’s table-toppers and both got their names onto the scoresheet.

Barrett scored a brace of tries and Perenara also crossed the whitewash as the Hurricanes outscored their opponents by eight tries to four.

The Wellington-based outfit’s other five-pointers were scored by Salesi Rayasi (2), Brad Shields, Harry Godfrey and Du’Plessis Kirifi while Aidan Morgan succeeded with seven conversions.

For the Rebels, Angelo Smith, Lukas Ripley, Mason Gordon and Jordan Uelese went over for tries which were all converted by Wallabies playmaker Carter Gordon.

Fifth successive victory

The victory means the Hurricanes consolidated their position at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table as they have now won all five of their matches played so far.

The match started brightly for the home side and they were rewarded in the 13th minute when Rayasi crossed for his first try after gathering a pass from Perenara.

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Five minutes later, the Hurricanes launched an attack from a lineout close to the Rebels’ 10-metre line and the veteran scrum-half gathered an inside pass from skipper Brad Shields before gliding through a gap in his opponents’ defence.

Perenara set off towards the Rebels’ try-line but did brilliantly to offload to the onrushing Barrett deep inside their opponents’ half before he cantered in for a well-taken try.

The Hurricanes dominated the rest of the half with Rayasi crossing for his second try midway through the half before Shields marked his return to Super Rugby when he crossed for his side’s bonus-point try in the 24th minute.

Ten minutes later, Godfrey scored a well-taken try before the Rebels opened their account courtesy of Smith’s five-pointer which meant the Hurricanes held a 33-7 lead at half-time.

And soon after the restart, the Rebels reduced the gap further when Ripley scored his try before the home side struck back when Kirifi crossed the whitewash.

The Hurricanes maintained their dominance after the interval and Perenara and Barrett continued to be influential.

Strong finish

In the 56th minute, Perenara scored his 59th Super Rugby try – after good work from Barrett and James O’Reilly in the build-up – before the Rebels struck back with Mason Gordon’s effort on the hour mark.

In the 70th minute, Barrett had an easy run-in for his second five-pointer which also brought up a half century of points for the hosts before Uelese secured a consolation try in the game’s closing stages.

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Hurricanes Jordie Barrett TJ Perenara

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