Hurricanes back-row Devan Flanders caught the eye with an outstanding try in the Hurricanes’ 37-33 defeat to the Brumbies in their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Canberra on Saturday.
With the Wellington-based side holding a slender 26-25 lead on the hour mark, Flanders gathered the ball at a scrum on his 10-metre line before setting off towards the Brumbies’ try-line.
He still had plenty of work to do but did well to shrug off the attentions of Rob Valetini and was soon inside his opponents’ half of the field where he also outpaced Jack Debreczeni and Andy Muirhead.
Flanders continued to build up speed and was then confronted by Tom Wright deep inside the home side’s 22 but powered through his tackle before barging over for his five-pointer.
That score was converted by Brett Cameron which meant the Hurricanes were on course for victory with the score 33-25 in their favour, but the Brumbies finished stronger and clinched a thrilling win courtesy of late tries from Luke Reimer and Wright.
Flanders runs it 60! Canes lead in Canberra and don’t their fans love it 😳
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Earlier, Kini Naholo gave the Hurricanes the perfect start with a try in the second minute which was converted by Cameron before the Brumbies responded with an Ollie Sapsford five-pointer, with Debreczeni adding the extras.
Cameron then slotted a penalty before Debreczeni scored a converted try which meant the Brumbies held a 14-10 lead by the 17th minute. Cameron then narrowed the gap to a point but the hosts regained the initiative in the 25th minute via a Len Ikitau try.
Another Cameron penalty kept the Hurricanes in the game but two three-pointers off the kicking tee from Debreczeni meant the Brumbies held a 25-16 lead at half-time.
In the 48th minute, Ardie Savea went over for a converted try before the visitors took the lead in the 57th minute when Cameron succeeded with his fourth penalty.
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Flanders’ fantastic score followed soon after but the Brumbies had the final say courtesy of those two tries from Reimer and Wright in the game’s closing stages.
Video credit: Stan Sport