Flying Fiji winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca scored a hat-trick as reigning Super 12 champions the Auckland Blues defeated last year’s finalists the Canterbury Crusaders 38-29 on Friday.
Caucaunibuca, the star of last year’s World Cup, was in scintillating form as Auckland threw caution to the wind and roared back from 24-12 down at half-time to score a superb victory.
The Auckland win left the Crusaders, surprisingly beaten in opening-round matches last weekend, still chasing their first victory of this year’s tournament.
As well as Caucaunibuca, known universally as Caucau, Auckland had All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer, who scored two tries, to thank for victory.
Spencer was in superb form and set up a magical late try from deep in his own half — with Auckland only 31-29 ahead — that ultimately made sure of victory.
Spencer’s 20m pass to fellow All Black Joe Rokocoko saw Auckland break out with a sweeping counter-attack and Spencer completed the move with a try before converting.
Crusaders played to their traditional strengths, with a powerful pack helping them to go 6-0 ahead thanks to two penalties by Dan Carter, another member of New Zealand’s World Cup squad.
Caucau’s first try, converted by Spencer, put Auckland 7-6 up but Carter slotted another penalty to restore Canterbury’s lead and then New Zealand skipper Reuben Thorne went over out wide to put the Crusaders 16-7 ahead.
Auckland responded with a try from All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina, only for Carter to bang over another penalty and then race away 40m for a 24-12 half-time lead.
After the break Caucau reopened his account with an unstoppable run down the wing. Further tries from Caucau and Spencer put Auckland in a commanding position as Canterbury tried to fight back.
Former All Black campaigner Andrew Mehrtens was subbed on for the Crusaders and made an immediate difference in line play, which put Ben Blair in for a try to reduce Auckland’s lead to 31-29.
But it was too little too late and Spencer’s inspired late score wrapped up the points for Auckland. — Sapa-AFP