Super Rugby Pacific: Hurricanes thump Highlanders to boost top-seed hopes

Saturday, 1 June 2024

At Sky Stadium, Wellington: Hurricanes 41 (Salesi Rayasi tries 6min, 23min, Du’Plessis Kirifi try 12min, TJ Perenara try 17min, Brayden Iose try 62min; Brett Cameron 3 con) Highlanders 14 (Matt Whaanga try 2min, Fabian Holland 33min; Sam Gilbert 2 con). HT: 29-14

Yellow card: Connor Garden-Bachop (Highlanders), Sam Gilbert (Highlanders)

Job done. Now, the Hurricanes need a small favour from the Chiefs to ensure they secure the top-seed ahead of the Super Rugby playoffs.

The Hurricanes bagged the bonus point win they needed against the Highlanders in the capital on Saturday evening, propelling themselves five competition points clear of the Blues.

It leaves the Blues, who have a superior points differential, needing to record a big bonus point win against the Chiefs at Eden Park later on Saturday to go past them.

Should they fail to do so, the Hurricanes will host the Rebels in the quarterfinals next weekend, and have home-field advantage as long as they remain alive.

The Hurricanes look almost certain to finish atop the Super Rugby standings.

Up against a Highlanders team down on fire power, and locked into the sixth seed before kickoff, the Hurricanes outscored the southerners seven tries to two on a foul night in Wellington.

Explosive hooker Asafo Aumua made a timely return from injury for the ‘Canes, flashing his power game during a dynamic 40 minutes.

He was involved in practically everything good the hosts mustered en route to their 10th victory from their past 11 games against the Highlanders.

That included his barnstorming run and inside ball to set up the first of Salesi Rayasi’s three tries on the night, a quick response to Highlanders centre Matt Whaanga’s third minute strike.

Isaia Walker-Leawere of the Hurricanes and Max Hicks of the Highlanders compete for a lineout during the round 15 Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Highlanders at Sky Stadium, on June 01, 2024.

Aumua churned out 48 metres on seven carries in his return from a MCL tear in his left knee, an injury which was expected to wipe him out for the rest of the regular season.

He wasn’t the only Hurricanes forward to shine.

Flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi was immense, scoring two first half tries, one of them after powering through a couple of tackles with his relentless leg drive.

Halfback TJ Perenara extended his lead atop the Super Rugby try-scoring list, touching down for the 65th time, three more than former teammate Julian Savea.

Finn Hurley of the Highlanders is tackled by Josh Moorby of the Hurricanes during the round 15 Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Highlanders at Sky Stadium.

At times it was all too easy for the Hurricanes, who benefited from yellow cards to Highlanders Connor Garden-Bachop and Sam Gilbert, both for high shots, and have not lost to the southerners at home since the 2015 Super Rugby final.

That was all too evident when Hurricanes No 8 Brayden Iose scooped up the ball from the back of a scrum and had all too much space in front of him en route to the line, as his try powered his side to a 41-14 lead after 61 minutes.

Only a lack of execution, and some desperate Highlanders defence from fullback Finn Hurley, stopped it getting uglier from there.

The big picture

It’s going to take something special from the Blues if they’re to romp past the Chiefs on Saturday night and deny the Hurricanes the No 1 seed.

Top-spot would set up a home quarterfinal against the Rebels next week, while second would mean the Fijian Drua are coming to town.

The Highlanders will be away to either the Blues or Brumbies in the quarterfinals.

What’s next?

Playoff rugby awaits both teams. But just who they’re up against won’t be determined until later on Saturday night.

As for the dates and kickoff times, that’s not likely to be confirmed until Sunday.