Hurricanes hand first Super Rugby Aotearoa defeat to Crusaders

Crusaders 32-34 Hurricanes, Orangetheory Stadium
Scorecard

Wes Goosen scored a double while Jordie Barrett kicked 19 points as Hurricanes edged out Crusaders 32-24 in their Super Rugby Aotearoa clash at Orangetheory Stadium.

Despite the defeat, Crusaders hold the top place in the table with 19 points while Hurricanes are at second with 16 points.

The result also ended Crusaders' 36-match unbeaten streak at home.

Jordie Barrett started the proceedings with a ninth minute penalty kick for Hurricanes but Richie Mo'unga cancelled it out with a three-pointer of his own in the 12th minute.

Jack Goodhue breached the defence of the visitors and offloaded to Mo'unga, who scored a converted try in the 18th minute but the teams were hardly separated as Canes responded back with the first of Goosen's try at the start of the second half.

A long pass from Sevu Reece set up Crusaders' second try with George Bridge dotting down around the half-hour mark but Goosen's second in the 35th minute and a penalty from Barrett at the stroke of half-time meant the teams finished the first half with a 17-21 scoreline.

Mo'unga with a three-pointer at the start of the second half reduced the gap between the two teams to just one point before Jordie restored four-point lead for Hurricanes with his own penalty kick in the 59th minute.

Hurricanes thought they took control of the game when Joe Moody and passed out to Peter Umaga-Jensen in the 62nd minute to increase their lead to 11 points but tries from Quinten Strange (68') and Reece (76') kept Crusaders in the hunt making the scoreline 32-34.

Any chance of a Crusaders' win was put off when Strange was yellow-carded at the closing stage as Hurricanes completed a thrilling two-point victory.