Watch: ‘Captain’ Roigard to the rescue

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All Blacks scrumhalf Cam Roigard delivered a match-winning performance to guide the Hurricanes past the Highlanders in Wellington on Friday.

The hosts secured a thrilling 24-20 win at Sky Stadium, with Roigard crossing twice – including a dramatic winner after 22 phases when the  siren had already sounded.

The Canes, sporting their Captain America-inspired kit, overturned a 14-7 half-time deficit despite losing flanker Brayden Iose to an ankle injury early in the contest. 

Bailyn Sullivan dotted down for the visitors before suffering a head knock, while Highlanders winger James Lowe bagged a first-half double.

Ruben Love’s penalty gave the Canes their first lead with 20 minutes remaining, but consecutive Taine Robinson penalties pushed the hosts ahead 20-17 late on.

Love’s electric break created one final attacking opportunity which Roigard converted to clinch victory.

The result cements the Hurricanes’ spot in the top six with 30 points, above defending champions the Blues, while the Highlanders’ playoff hopes are all but dashed after their ninth defeat of the season.

In Sydney, the Waratahs’ finals hopes all but evaporated in a 48-33 loss to the second-placed Crusaders.

The hosts suffered a fourth-straight defeat – and second in a row at Allianz Stadium – to remain anchored in eighth spot. Friday’s must-win game was as good as over at half time Dan McKellar’s men after the visitors piled on five tries to one to take a 31-7 lead into the break.

All Blacks speedster Sevu Reece ran in the Crusaders’ sixth try after the restart to join retired Hurricanes star TJ Perenara as Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer, before flanker Tom Christie crossed the whitewash to cap off an emphatic Saders performance.

Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

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