Ben Lam scored four tries to inspire the Hurricanes to a 50-19 win against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday, writes MARIETTE ADAMS.
Matches in Australia normally follow ones in New Zealand and there’s usually a stark gulf in quality. But on this Good Friday, the enthralling derby between the Chiefs and Highlanders preceded an equally enticing trans-Tasman clash between the reinvented Rebels and the lethal Hurricanes.
In a breathless affair, the brilliance of Beauden Barrett and the finishing of four-try hero Lam proved to be the decisive factors. After a promising opening by the Rebels, they disintegrated horribly as Barrett ignited the Hurricanes’ attack and ultimately led them to victory.
The Hurricanes looked sharp as they virtually camped in Rebels territory during the early stages, but the hosts’ defensive reading of their plays should be lauded as they kept the Canes at bay.
Five minutes in and the Hurricanes would have been wondering how they were level at 3-3 after penalties from Barrett and Jack Debreczeni.
For all their solid defence in the face of a relentless Hurricanes onslaught, a brain fade by Jack Maddocks led to a fortuitous try for the visitors. After Tom English collected a kick through and evaded a tackle behind the tryline, he found Maddocks but instead of booting the ball away, the fullback tried to run his way out of danger, had the ball stripped off him and from there the Canes just shifted it wide to Lam, who finished expertly in the corner.
But as we’ve become accustomed to from these Rebels since the addition of Dave Wessels as coach, they shrugged off the setback and stormed to a 19-8 lead thanks to three successive penalties and a converted try by lock Matt Phillips.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Barrett’s genius and a healthy stroke of luck in the 10 minutes before and after half-time sparked the Hurricanes back to life and into the contest.
No sooner had Barrett added three points off the kicking tee in the 34th minute to reduce the deficit, Lam scored his second try. From the kick-off, Debreczeni erroneously allowed a wild kick by Barrett to bounce and it sat up perfectly for Lam to go in under the posts on the stroke of half-time.
With his side trailing by a point, a Barrett special left the Rebels defence in tatters and the crowd on their feet. From a standing start, he sold a dummy to flummox a defender and ran in a wonderful individual effort to put the Hurricanes back in front.
There was no way back for the Rebels from there as they conceded a further 25 points.
Barrett nailed a third penalty and then they finished off the Rebels with four more tries, including a brace by Lam in the last 10 minutes to take his tally to four.
The result sees the Hurricanes notch up their 11th straight win over Australian opposition.
Rebels – Try: Matt Phillips. Conversion: Debreczeni. Penalties: Debreczeni (4).
Hurricanes – Tries: Ben Lam (4), Beauden Barrett, Gareth Evans, Ngani Laumape. Conversions: Barrett (3). Penalties: Barrett (3).
Rebels – 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Tom English, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Lopeti Timani, 5 Adam Coleman (c), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner.
Subs: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Richard Hardwick, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Sefa Naivalu.
Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves.
Subs: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen.
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
