Rayasi triple leaves Waikato in his dust
IT is time, surely, for try-scoring sensation Salesi Rayasi to take the step up from bit-part player to fulltime starter at the Super Rugby level.
His dazzling form in the Mitre 10 Cup has certainly put his Hurricanes franchise on notice. The 24-year-old wing produced another standout display for Auckland in their vital 31-10 victory over Waikato in last night’s all-Premiership clash at Eden Park as his side stormed to the top of the standings with their sixth win of the campaign.
And Rayasi bagged a brilliant hat-trick to charge to the top of the competition’s try-scoring chart and featured in all four tries scored by the Aucklanders as they wrapped up an excellent night’s work with an 80th minute bonus-point try to young No 8 Sione Tuipulotu that took them a point clear of Tasman at the top of the table.
He scored the first three, courtesy of some fabulous creative play by his team-mates, and laid on the last one with a deft crossfield kick to fellow wing AJ Lam who neatly offloaded to his No 8.
It was a strong all-round display by Alama Ieremia’s men who dominated up front with their scrum and lineout in the ascendancy, and their finishing top-notch. Tuipulotu had a fine match in his starting debut, while playmaker Harry Plummer nailed all five of his shots at goal.
Waikato were right in the contest until the final 10 minutes and remain in the thick of the semifinal hunt at 6-2 on 27 points.
Rayasi’s first-half double, both via perfectly-weighted kicks from his midfielders, were enough to give his side a 14-7 lead over the competition leaders at the break.
In-form Waikato halfback Xavier Roe had opened the scoring in just the 10th minute when he strolled in after his opposite number Jonathan Ruru bought a show-and-go at the ruck.
But the home side worked its way back into the contest and around the first-quarter mark, a big touch-finder from Zarn Sullivan, then a bad over-throw from Waikato hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, coughed up bonus possession for the Auks, which was turned into Rayasi’s opening try via TJ Faiane’s pinpoint kick and a costly slip from Beaudein Waaka.
Rayasi was in for his second, and the 14-7 lead, just five minutes later from a slick set off a lineout 30m out. Faiane and Plummer got the initial goforward, Scott Scrafton set up a second quick ruck and from there Tumua Manu’s chip had the left wing in a race on his own against the rushing defence.
The game stayed tight until the 73rd minute, when replacement back Simon Hickey found Lam on the angled kick and the wing’s inpass put Rayasi in for his hat-trick. The icing was applied right on time when Rayasi’s crosskick came up gold, and Lam’s unselfish offload completed a satisfying night.
The Hurricanes would appear to have a bit to think about as they plot for Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2021.