Super Rugby
Barrett injured as Hurricanes edge Crusaders
ESPN Staff
May 2, 2015
Date/Time: May 2, 2015, 19:35 local, 07:35 GMT
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes 29 - 23 Crusaders
Half-time: 17 - 17
Tries: Barrett, Goodes, Shields, Thomson
Cons: Barrett 3
Pens: Barrett
Tries: Carter, Slade
Cons: Slade 2
Pens: Slade 3
The Hurricanes' Beauden Barrett gets a kick away, Hurricanes v Crusaders, Wellington, May 2, 2015
The Hurricanes' Beauden Barrett gets a kick away
© Getty Images
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The Hurricanes have taken another step towards the New Zealand conference title with a thrilling six-point victory over local rivals, the Crusaders, in Wellington. The hosts scored four tries to two to claim their ninth win of the season but it may yet come at a cost with playmaker Beauden Barrett leaving the field with a knee injury in a worrying sign for the All Blacks.

With Aaron Cruden already sidelined, the three leading contenders for the All Blacks No.10 jersey at this year's Rugby World Cup were all on show and it was Colin Slade and Dan Carter who combined to give the Crusaders the perfect start at Westpac Stadium. The forwards laid a beautiful platform as the Crusaders rolled up-field, allowing Slade to slide through and find Carter in support on his inside for the game's first try on three minutes.

The visitors had easily enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but that would come to an abrupt end against the run of play as Beauden Barrett swooped on a loose ball to sprint 80 metres untouched. And the Hurricanes would have the lead just a couple of minutes later as No.8 Brad Shields finished of a brilliant team sequence. Full-back Nehe Milner-Skudder - one of the finds of the season - got the Hurricanes into the back-field before Conrad Smith and Ardie Savea provided the final passes for Shields.

The Hurricanes continue on their winning ways with a 29-23 victory over the Crusaders (Australia only)

The momentum then switched back to the Crusaders as they began to string some passes together and find space both through the middle, and around, the Hurricanes' defence. But they were unable to finish off their opportunities and had to settle for a penalty on 30 minutes after Slade had been unsuccessful with two earlier attempts. That penalty also saw Ma'a Nonu head for the sin-bin, the All Blacks centre sent yellow-carded for a cynical ruck infringement.

The Crusaders playmaker more than made up for those wayward efforts from the boot however as he went on another ghosting run for his side's second try. In what was almost a carbon copy of his assist for Carter's five-pointer, Slade slipped between two Hurricanes defenders and survived a huge hit from Julian Savea to bounce over next to the posts. He added the extras to regain the lead for the Crusaders at 17-14. But it would be all square at the break as Barrett kicked his first penalty of the match right on half-time after referee Mike Fraser found a Crusaders infringement at the scrum.

The first-half had been set alight with a try after just a few minutes and it would have been the case after the break, too, had Julian Savea not succumbed to white-line fever. The Hurricanes winger was brought down just short of the line after a strong run, but rather than setting up the ball for his team-mates, the winger promoted his body in what was ruled a double-movement. That disappointment was only amplified a couple of minutes later when Slade kicked his second penalty of the match; the Hurricanes further angered when Fraser found another infringement when they were again just a few metres short of the Crusaders' line.

But there would be no denying the Hurricanes when they next visited the Crusaders' line. An extraordinary passage of play, which saw the Crusaders secure a turnover but then kick away possession, eventually finished with a try to prop Reggie Goodes; Barrett, Blade Thomson and Ardie Savea all playing a part as the hosts moved back into the lead at 24-20 with 25 minutes to play.

Colin Slade scored one try and set up another for the Crusaders © Getty Images
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The gap was soon back to one point as Slade kicked another penalty, the two sides battling away at each other like a couple of old prize fighters. The match needed a knock-out blow and it would be the home side to deliver the action as they put in another contender for try of the year. It again started with Barrett who fielded a bomb and beat a couple of defenders before off-loading to halves partner TJ Perenara, the livewire scrum-half then set a chain of passing in motion which finished in a perfectly floated ball to back-rower Thompson for the Hurricanes' fourth five-pointer and a 29-23 lead.

Already down All Blacks playmaker Cruden, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen won't have been pleased with the sight of Barrett limping off with a knee injury nine minutes from time. The Hurricanes No.10 originally tried to continue after having his left knee strapped, but we was brought to the sidelines at the next stoppage; James Marshall coming on to pilot the Hurricanes home.

The replacement missed a penalty that would have secured the win inside the final five minutes but it mattered little as the Crusaders were unable to capitalise on a string of penalties which saw them march into the Hurricanes' half right on full-time.

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