Super Rugby Pacific: Fehi Fineanganofo shows New Zealand Rugby what they will miss in rampant Hurricanes’ win

Saturday, 25 April 2026

Fehi Fineanganofo crosses for the Hurricanes’ first try against the Brumbies in Christchurch.

At One NZ Stadium, Christchurch: Hurricanes 45 (Fehi Fineanganofo 4 tries, 7 min, 20 min, 38min, 58min, Josh Moorby 2 tries, 49min, 76 min, Jone Rova try 80 min; Ruben Love 5 cons) Brumbies 12 (David Feliuai try 46 min, Corey Toole try 69 min; Tane Edmed con) HT: 19-0.

Dave Rennie must squirm every time Fehi Fineanganofo charges through the defensive line or adds to his soaring try-scoring collection.

The boom Hurricanes wing lit up Christchurch’s new glitzy indoor stadium on Saturday with a four-try special as they crushed the Brumbies 45-12 in front of another sold out crowd.

His fourth was the pick of the bunch, toeing the ball ahead from a Brumbies’ mistake and regathering before outsprinting Tane Edmed to put the result beyond doubt with 20 left. Fellow wing Josh Moorby also bagged a double in the one-sided contest.

This was just the bounce-back the Hurricanes craved after a tough extra-time top of the table loss to the Chiefs last week.

More importantly, it was a fitting performance in co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi’s 100th match for the side. Kirifi, an inspirational leader, who debuted in 2019, became the 19th Hurricanes centurion.

Fehi Fineanganofo starred with four tries in the Hurricanes’ win over the Brumbies.

The Hurricanes also retained the Captain Shout Cup, which was first contested between these sides last year.

Fineanganofo did the flashy stuff out wide, but the Hurricanes’ win was built around another slick showing from first five Ruben Love, while All Blacks midfielders Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor were both excellent. Warner Dearns was a menace again at lineout time and fierce defensively.

His four try effort equalled the Hurricanes’ record for tries in a game joining Ben Lam (v Rebels, 2018), Ngani Laumape (v Blues, 2018), and Bailyn Sullivan (v Chiefs, 2025).

Fineanganofo paved the way for the ‘Canes victory, which sends them five points clear at the top of the Super Rugby log, dotting down for a first half hat-trick and four for the game. In doing so, he took his try-scoring tally for the season to a competition-best 14, five clear of Brumbies No 8 Charlie Cale.

Du'Plessis Kirifi celebrated his 100th Super Rugby game with a win for the Hurricanes.

New Zealand Rugby would desperately love to have a player of Fineanganofo’s skills stick about, but he is bound for England at the end of the season.

While there are still another five rounds left, Fineanganofo’s breakout 2026 campaign would surely have had him in All Blacks coach Rennie’s selection mix.

Auckland-raised Fineanganofo signed with Newcastle Red Bulls in January and barring something unexpected he will be lost to the game in this country, at least for the next two years.

Fineanganofo, who was a standout for the ‘Canes last season, has taken his play to another level this year.

Billy Proctor was a standout in the Hurricanes’ midfield against the Brumbies.

Had Fineanganofo not put pen to paper with Newcastle there is every chance he might have been running out at the same venue he dazzled at on Saturday in the All Blacks’ opening test this year against France in July.

The Brumbies were looking to create history and become the first Australian side to beat every Kiwi side in a season.

Any hope of that happening all but disappeared in the first 40 minutes with the Hurricanes heading to the break with a 19-0 advantage.

Lock Warner Dearns had another strong outing in the Hurricanes’ win over the Brumbies.

The Brumbies weren’t helped by the pre-game scratching of influential Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa, ruled out with a head knock during the week.

Stung by an extra-time loss to the Chiefs in last week’s top of the table clash, the Hurricanes were up for this one from the start.

Fineanganofo has been a try-scoring machine this season and only took seven minutes to open his account under the roof, capitalising from a slicing Love run.

Fineanganofo’s second was just as easy, racing through from a pinpoint Barrett pass from an earlier lineout.

He brought up his hat-trick just before halftime, finishing off another beautiful ball from Proctor to put the Hurricanes in firm control of the game.

The Brumbies had to be the first team to score to start the second half if they were any chance and hit back via a David Feliuai try from a beautiful Corey Toole pass.

But, Fineanganofo’s fourth with 20 remaining all but killed off the contest, securing the Hurricanes’ seventh win from nine starts.

The Hurricanes host the Crusaders in a juicy New Zealand derby in Wellington on Friday and will enter with plenty of confidence after this one.