Hurricanes late wins – 10 of the best

Recapping some of the memorable late wins or wins after the hooter by the Hurricanes throughout the history of Super Rugby.

1997 Hurricanes 37 - Gauteng Lions 35, Johannesburg

The Hurricanes encountered a Lions team unbeaten at home at Ellis Park in their first four matches of the year, having beaten Free State, the Highlanders, Brumbies and Waratahs. The Hurricanes made a flying start, piling on 19 points in as many minutes before the Lions came back and grabbed the lead with 10 minutes remaining. But referee Jonathan Kaplan penalised the home side in the 80th minute and up stepped Jon Preston who kicked his sixth penalty of the match for the last-gasp win. This victory was also significant for being the Hurricanes’ first ever win overseas, following four losses on foreign soil in 1996.

1998 Hurricanes 32 - Brumbies 29, Canberra

Christian Cullen flew in for a 79th minute try to secure the Hurricanes a sensational 32-29 win for their first win over the Brumbies in Super Rugby and to become the first New Zealand side to win in Canberra. Cullen’s match-winner off a telling burst by centre Alama Ieremia followed up an earlier try to flanker Martin Leslie and six penalties to halfback Jon Preston. Following this win, the Hurricanes lost their last three matches and ended the season on a much lower note, as did captain Mark ‘Bull’ Allen who was stretchered off the field with a broken neck in this match against the Brumbies and had played his last game of rugby

2006 Hurricanes 23 v Stormers 19, Cape Town

The Hurricanes earned their fourth straight Super Rugby victory over the Stormers with this stirring come-from-behind win at Newlands. Behind 13-19 with barely five minutes left on the clock, second five-eighth Tane Tu'ipulotu and left wing Hosea Gear each scored tries in opposite corners to win the game for the Hurricanes. Tu'ipulotu, a late replacement for this match for Tana Umaga, had played in all 11 games for the Hurricanes two years previously and had also scored a try the last time the Hurricanes had played in Cape Town in 2004 and won 25-19.

2007 Hurricanes 11 v Brumbies 10, Wellington

The Hurricanes - Brumbies match in 2007 came down to the last play of the game, No. 8 Thomas Waldrom the hero in scoring the match-winning try in the corner in the 80th minute. Waldrom's try brought the Westpac Stadium crowd to its feet as the Hurricanes overhauled a 6-10 deficit for a death-knock win. With the fulltime hooter ringing in everyone's ears, the Hurricanes attacked for one last time from inside their own half. Surging forward towards the line, replacement flanker Hayden Hopgood offloaded a deft pass in the tackle to Waldrom in support on his shoulder. Waldrom then pinned his ears back and charged for the corner.

2007 Hurricanes 39 v Chiefs 32, in Hamilton

Taranaki lock Paul Tito played 84 matches for the Hurricanes, the most by a Hurricanes forward at the time of his departure to Wales, and helped set up some famous victories. But never was his contribution more valuable when he was on hand to score the winning try in the dying stages here. Tito, who had played for the Chiefs before joining the Hurricanes in 2000, scooted 30 metres to score in the corner in the 78th minute to break a 32-32 deadlock. First five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth calmly added the fulltime sideline conversion, This was also Ma'a Nonu's 50th Hurricanes game, Nonu celebrating with a 40-metre runaway try in the first half.

2009 Hurricanes 28 - Western Force 27, Perth

Fullback Cory Jane and left wing David Smith scored tries to give the Hurricanes a sensational victory on fulltime. Jane scored the match-winning try in the corner after the hooter after they spun the ball wide across the Force’s goal line. Jane linked up with replacement wing Tamati Ellison to score with the last act of the game.Jane’s try came hot on the heels of Smith’s try on the opposite side of the field, calmly converted by first five-eighth Willie Ripia, seeing the Hurricanes reel in a 27-16 deficit over the final four minutes of play.

2011 Hurricanes 50 - Cheetahs 47, Bloemfontein

Lock Jeremy Thrush finished off a sweeping counterattack up the right-hand touchline to score the match-winning try in the 80th minute. The try was started deep inside the Hurricanes’ own territory and moved through several sets of hands, before replacement hooker Dane Coles tipped on the final pass to Thrush who pinned his ears back and galloped the final 30 metres to silence the home crowd. With the Hurricanes celebrating, replacement first five-eighth Beauden Barrett kicked the conversion to bring up the Hurricanes’ half-century of points and equal the most points they have scored in South Africa. At the time the Hurricanes were trailing 47-43. The Cheetahs had led 33-30 at the end of the first half.

2012: Hurricanes 26 - Blues 25, Auckland

The Hurricanes scored a converted try on fulltime to clinch this one at Eden Park. Captain and centre Conrad Smith finished off a breathtaking broken field break from halfway by first five-eighth Beauden Barrett to put the Hurricanes behind by a point with Barrett's conversion to come. Then, with the last play of the game, Barrett calmly added the extras. Previously, the Blues had been hot on attack down the other end of the field and playing to hold on to or extend their 25-19 lead. But mighty Hurricanes defence provided a turnover and the Hurricanes launched one final assault at the home team's defensive line. From his own side of halfway, Barrett sliced into a gap, beating two defenders and offloading on his outside to Smith in the tackle of the third. Smith pinned his ears back and scooted 25 metres to the whitewash.

2012: Hurricanes 28 - Chiefs 25, Wellington

Hooker-turned replacement blindside flanker Dane Coles burrowed over to score the match-winning try with the last play of the regular season and first five-eighth Beauden Barrett converted to give the Hurricanes a thrilling 28-25 win over the competition frontrunners. Coles' 84th minute try after almost five minutes of frantic attacking play inside the Chiefs' 22 was awarded by the TMO, after numerous television replays. Coles' last-gasp match-winner was the Hurricanes' third try of the match on a windy night, following two first-half tries to All Blacks left wing Julian Savea. They led 18-15 at halftime, before a 57th minute 40-metre intercept try to Aaron Cruden gave the Chiefs the upper hand. A tense and willing final quarter unfolded and the Chiefs lead 25-21 with 15 minutes to play.

2018: Hurricanes 38 – Sharks 37, Napier

The Hurricanes won with a converted try to midfielder Ngani Laumape five minutes after the hooter had sounded in a McLean Park thriller. The Hurricanes were trailing by nine points with two minutes remaining but first five-eighth Ihaia West slotted a penalty to close the gap to 31-37 and the Hurricanes surged back down on to attack and inside the 22 from a series of penalties and a multiple phase play build-up. Finally the dam broke and the ball was ripped out to Laumape to cross the line for his second try of the night. West, a late starter for an injured Beauden Barrett, nailed the conversion to give the Hurricanes their fifth straight win, against the Sharks who had trounced the Blues 63-40 in their previous match.