Tyrel Lomax’s return the big Hurricanes’ win from heavy Crusaders loss in Super Rugby Pacific
Monday, 1 June 2026
ANALYSIS: Super Rugby Pacific success is 20% down to coaching and 80% down to the calibre of player - and that might be underestimating the importance of the players.
That reality was starkly evident as a barely recognisable Hurricanes side was thumped 47-14 by the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday. Top spot was already assured, and now the sixth-seeded Brumbies cross the Tasman for the first qualifying final in Wellington on Friday.
There is an enormous gap between All Blacks-quality players and those still bridging the gap between provincial rugby and Super Rugby - and the Hurricanes had a few of the latter group in their team on Friday.
To recap, the Hurricanes were missing Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, Warner Dearns, Caleb Delany, Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Ereatara Enari, Ruben Love, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor and Fehi Fineanganofo in Christchurch.
Most of the above will return this week although Flanders (concussion) is sidelined for another week and Kirifi (shoulder) and Fineanganofo (hamstring) are rated unlikely.
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They were unlikely to get the win in Christchurch, and the coaching group might have been prioritising other outcomes from the game.
For example, the real victory for the Hurricanes might have been the sight of returning All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax establishing scrum superiority over the Crusaders in the first half before he was replaced at halftime.
Lomax’s encouraging return came after the Hurricanes were towelled up at scrum time by the Highlanders the week before, and its significance was emphasised when the Crusaders lost Fletcher Newell 10 minutes before the break due to a leg injury.
If Lomax continues to build through the playoffs, the result in Christchurch will quickly be forgotten.
Coach Clark Laidlaw even had a subtle dig at the Crusaders in his post-game remarks, contrasting the fortunes of Lomax with the Crusaders’ star fullback Will Jordan, who stayed on for 72 minutes in his comeback game against the Chiefs last week and re-injured his calf.
Laidlaw naturally expressed disappointment after the game that the scoreline had blown out against the Crusaders.
He identified the aerial game as one area that needed to improve as the Crusaders dominated possession and territory.
He could have also pinpointed the Hurricanes’ huge error rate: they were guilty of 42 missed tackles and 25 turnovers, while their defensive system was far too easily manipulated by the Crusaders’ preferred back-door plays in the first half.
But it will be surprisingly easy for them to turn the page in the first week of the playoffs when most of their top-liners return and the stakes are raised.
Players such as Barrett, Proctor and Kirifi are massive for this Hurricanes team. While others such as Cam Roigard and Love get the plaudits, the senior trio bring so much knowledge, experience and communication. They will hope Kirifi can return for a likely semifinal against the Blues (assuming they are the highest-ranked losers this weekend) on Saturday week.
They’ll be able to see the Crusaders result for what it is and understand that it hasn’t changed the Hurricanes’ path in the playoffs: it was always going to be difficult.
But Lomax’s strongman efforts in the scrum on Friday might just have increased their chances of a first title since 2016.