The San Francisco 49ers travelled to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants in an attempt to get their struggling start to the season back on track.

Eli Manning and Colin Kaepernick went toe-to-toe for their respective sides, and despite San Francisco leading until the final 40 seconds, the Giants’ quarterback prevailed to guide New York to a 30-27 victory.

In a tense clash of two franchise heavyweights, Jarryd Hayne emerged in the third quarter for San Francisco but his impact wasn’t enough as the 49ers slumped to their fourth consecutive loss.

With Bruce Ellington at kick returner and incumbent Reggie Bush securing the running back position, the Giants domination of the first half of football ensured they wouldn’t need to punt the ball – meaning Hayne’s role as punt returner was non-existent.

By the end of the first quarter the game was tied at 3-3, and by the end of the second the teams were still neck and neck at 13-13 – with the 49ers defence looking shaky towards the backend of the first quarter it was the Giants who scored an unanswered ten-point haul through Shane Vereen to take the game to 13-3.

With pressure mounting on the 49ers, Ellington dropped the ball from the kick off and had Australian fans calling for Hayne to make an appearance in the game.

Phil Dawson shortened the gap by which the 49ers were trailing with a field goal to bring it back to 13-6 at the halftime break, though the opposing Australians Jarryd Hayne and Brad Wing were still yet to feature for their teams.

Hayne came on in the third quarter and was gifted a slim chance at running back due to an aggravated calf injury by Bush, and made the most of his back-to-back plays.

Hayne managed two solid runs for a gain of nine yards to arguably set up the 49ers for their first touchdown of the match. Kaepernick threw a touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin off the back of Hayne’s running game to tie the match at 13-13.

As the 49ers started to take some of the momentum from the Giants offensive start, it was Odell Beckham Jr who was instrumental for New York, scoring a touchdown and reclaiming a 20-13 lead for the Giants.

Hayne’s third and final play of the match was a case of fellow Australians going head-to-head. The NY Giants Australian kicker, Brad Wing, punted the ball down field for Hayne to re-gather and gain a further 16-yards to plead his case for increased game time.

Kaepernick finished off an 80-yard touchdown drive with his second TD throw of the match, finding Garrett Celek unmarked to tie the game at 20-20. Within minutes the Giants went to 23-20 following a 24-yard field goal attempt.

It could have been a moment for Hayne to shine but Carlos Hyde took the running back position and made the most of it by finding the end zone and taking the 49ers to 27-23 with just two minutes remaining in the match.

Despite Colin Kaepernick’s solid performance following three weeks of very average football, Eli Manning was the heroic quarterback who threw to Larry Donnell with 20 seconds remaining to win the match 30-27.

Last week against the undefeated Green Bay Packers, Hayne was limited to four plays in the heavy defeat and only featured in returns. Up until this match he had only been used as a punt returner in the 49ers roster and managed to impress in his limited role as running back today. Despite minimal chances to shine, Hayne made good on his chances.

Next week the 49’ers will play host to the Baltimore Ravens on 18. Oct at Levi’s Stadium.

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