Blade Thompson double lifts Hurricanes past Crusaders
Unheralded lock scores a brace in surprise derby triumph
Two tries from Blade Thompson carried the Hurricanes to an upset 16-9 victory in a crucial Super Rugby derby clash in Wellington on Saturday.
The unheralded lock scored the only tries in the cliffhanger match, with the Hurricanes' second win of the season over the Crusaders keeping alive their hopes of making the play-offs.
The Crusaders continue to lead the New Zealand conference, equal with the Otago Highlanders on 42 points but with a shade better differential, while the Hurricanes are one point behind on 41.
That was awesome. It was a great effort. I’m still trying to take it in
Thompson's second try was the game breaker, coming from turnover ball with seven minutes remaining in the match and with the Crusaders attacking strongly when trailing 9-11.
The big lock was first through on a Cory Jane chip kick and ran nearly 60 metres to score.
"That was awesome. It was a great effort. The boys had worked so hard on [defence] to keep them out. I'm still trying to take it in," Hurricanes captain Jeremy Thrush said at the final whistle.
Not even the injection of Kieran Read and Dan Carter into the Crusaders in the second half could break the Hurricanes, who appeared to be hurt least by rustiness from the June test break.
Crusaders captain Ryan Crotty said they lost the game in the first half.
"The physicality wasn't quite there, our urgency wasn't there either. They were beating us to the ball, and their break down was better than us. It means we're desperate in the last two weeks," he said.
In Sydney, winger Alofa Alofa scored a try in each half to fire the New South Wales Waratahs to an emphatic 39-8 win over the ACT Brumbies and to the top spot in the standings.
Prop Benn Robinson, flyhalf Bernard Foley and number eight Wycliff Palu also touched down at Sydney Football Stadium as the Waratahs ensured they would finish top in the Australian conference and secure a guaranteed berth in the play-offs.
The loss left last year's finalists, the Brumbies, all but out of contention for the postseason.
