The Hurricanes battered the Blues in a top-of-the-table Super Rugby Pacific clash, while the Reds beat the Crusaders for the first time in 15 years.
The home side unleashed an exceptional attacking display to win 42-19 in Wellington on Saturday, with speedy fullback Callum Harkin scoring two of their six tries.
Both teams came into the clash on four-match winning streaks and level on 25 points, but the Hurricanes dominated much of the contest with the physicality of their forwards and cohesive attacks.
Backline star Jordie Barrett said he hoped the Hurricanes can still be playing well “when it really matters”.
“Our challenge is that teams are going to eventually have plans for us,” he said. “So we need to bring our best stuff when it matters and we know that’s later in the year when there’s a bit more on the line.”
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The Hurricanes, whose lone title came in 2016, have scored 47 tries in seven games.
Wing Fine Fineanganofo extended his competition-leading try tally for the season to 10 when he crossed late in the first half to put the Hurricanes 21-12 up at the interval.
All Blacks Billy Proctor, Cam Roigard and Asafo Aumua also scored, while flyhalf Ruben Love landed all six conversion attempts to further enhance his Test selection claims.
Blues coach Vern Cotter said his team had received a “lesson in rugby” against good opponents.
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The Hurricanes’ next match is against the Chiefs who moved past the Blues to second place with 62-17 thumping of Moana Pasifika.
Elsewhere, coach Les Kiss praised the Queensland Reds’ “mental toughness” after they secured a first win against the champion Crusaders in 15 years.
Their clash at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday was 19-19 heading into the final 10 minutes before the Reds roared home 31-26 thanks to tries from Wallabies wing Filipo Daugunu and scrumhalf Louis Werchon.
It bagged their first win over the Crusaders in Brisbane since the 2011 Super Rugby final and members of that championship team were watching at the ground for their 15-year reunion.
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The Reds came into the round nine showdown having conceded 94 points in their previous two games, against the Western Force and the Hurricanes.
In contrast, the Crusaders were in red-hot form and seeking to score 50 or more points for the third consecutive match.
Meanwhile, the Western Force slumped to another defeat, this time to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
The 24-22 loss left them floundering second to last on the standings, above only Moana Pasifika and nine points outside the top six as their hopes of making the playoffs fade.
They face the sixth-placed Crusaders next weekend in round 10 of the 16-round regular season.
– AFP
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
The post Canes blow away Blues, Reds topple Saders appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Hurricanes battered the Blues in a top-of-the-table Super Rugby Pacific clash, while the Reds beat the Crusaders for the first time in 15 years.
The post Canes blow away Blues, Reds topple Saders appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
