All you need to know ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific semifinal between the Hurricanes and Blues
Saturday, 13 June 2026
The Hurricanes host the Blues in Wellington on Saturday night, with a spot in net week’s Super Rugby final on the line.
Kickoff at Hnry Stadium is at 7.05pm. The match will be broadcast live on Sky, while Stuff will provide live updates.
The Hurricanes won both regular season matches this year, but the Blues have won three of the past five fixtures between the sides.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Kiwi bookies aren’t giving the Blues a sniff.
The 2024 champions are rank outsiders, paying $6.50 to upset the top-seeded Hurricanes in the capital.
Fair enough.
After all, the Blues have lost four straight matches, conceding almost 200 points over the horror stretch.
On the other hand, the Hurricanes are flying high, having put 66 points on the Brumbies in foul conditions during last week’s qualifying final.
But, as we’ve seen in the past, regular season matches count for nothing come June.
It’s down to 80 minutes and, frankly, stranger things have happened.
That said, if the Blues are to cause a boil over, they will need to rediscover the type of brutal defence they inflicted upon teams en route to the title just two years ago.
The same dribble they’ve been producing will only result in another Canes’ cakewalk.
TEAMS
Hurricanes: Callum Harkin, Josh Moorby, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett (capt), Fehi Fineanganofo, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Brad Shields, Warner Dearns, Caleb Delany, Pasilio Tosi, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Raymond Tuputupu, Siale Lauaki, Tyrel Lomax, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Ere Enari, Jone Rova, Kini Naholo.
Blues: Beauden Barrett, Cole Forbes, AJ Lam, Xavi Taele, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Anton Segner, Torian Barnes, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), Marcel Renata, Bradley Slater, Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Reserves: Eli Oudenryn, Mason Tupaea, Flyn Yates, Josh Beehre, Che Clark, Taufa Funaki, Pita Ahki, Payton Spencer.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played 46: Blues 23 wins, Hurricanes 22 wins
TAB ODDS
Hurricanes $1.10 Blues $6.50
WHAT THEY SAID
Blues coach Vern Cotter: “We bumbled our way through to a semifinal and get an opportunity to play the number one team, so there’s a bit of excitement around that challenge.
“We’ll just keep bumbling along and see if we can put them in a bit of trouble this week.”
Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard: “I think it would be silly to think that they are going to be a team that’s going to fold over. I don’t think the past few weeks will be a reflection of how they’re going to play.”
OFFICIALS
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistants: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly