Super 14: Jimmy Gopperth kicked a 50-metre penalty eight minutes from time to hand New Zealand's Wellington Hurricanes a 16-14 win over Australia's New South Wales Waratahs in a Super 14 semi-final at Jade Stadium yesterday.
The replacement outhalf calmly slotted the ball over the posts to send the Hurricanes through to their first final since the competition, originally known as the Super 12, started in 1996.
The Hurricanes will play the winners of today's second semi-final between New Zealand's Canterbury Crusaders and the Bulls of South Africa in next week's final.
"I'm very proud of the boys, we took it right to the wire," said Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo.
"It makes it all that much sweeter when you beat a tough team like them."
The Waratahs, beaten finalists last season, looked to have snatched victory when wing Peter Hewat booted two penalties to put his team 14-13 in front, but a collapsed scrum gave the Hurricanes the penalty they needed to regain the lead.
