Replacement winger Zac Guilford scored two of eight tries as the Wellington Hurricanes beat the ACT Brumbies 56-7 in Super 14 rugby on Saturday.
Guilford scored two second-half tries as the Hurricanes scored four tries in each half to overrun the Brumbies by a record score, the first time in Super 12 or 14 rugby they have scored more than
50 points against an Australian side.
The Brumbies scored the opening try after fewer than two minutes through Wallabies prop Ben Alexander, but the Hurricanes responded with eight unanswered tries to post the imposing victory.
”We were pretty happy with the way the game went apart from the first couple of minutes which were pretty scrappy,” Hurricanes captain Rodney So’oialo said. ”We let them score an early try but
we wanted a big game and we managed to produce it.
”Apart from the first couple of minutes we played the way we wanted to play.”
Alexander’s opening try, converted by Mortlock gave the Brumbies a 7-0 lead and boded well for the former champions. But the Hurricanes clicked into gear almost immediately to help keep alive their challenge for a top-four place.
Backs Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison and David Smith scored tries as the Hurricanes established a 25-7 lead by halftime.
David Smith’s strong running and that of Ma’a Nonu in midfield created space from which the Hurricanes scored superb counterattacking tries.
Guilford scored two tries in the second half and replacement loose-forwards Faifili Levave and Victor Vito scored others at the Hurricanes took complete control of the match.
Flyhalf Willie Ripia finished with three conversions and two penalties. – Sapa-AP