The Hurricanes have come away with a close-fought win over the Blues, victorious by just four points.
Final score
Blues 24
Hurricanes 28
A big Easter Saturday continues with the Hurricanes travelling to Auckland to play the Blues. Join The Roar from 5.35pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage from this Round 8 match.
The sides bring contrasting form into this clash, with the Hurricanes coming off a win over a fast finishing Waratahs while the Blues went down to the Highlanders in a pulsating match, losing by six.
At home tonight, the Blues present a formidable challenge to the favoured Hurricanes side. They have named possibly their strongest line-up to date, chock full of internationals – the most notable inclusion being Sonny Bill Williams.
The Hurricanes, though still naming a strong line-up, are without regular Captain Dane Coles and have lost centre Matt Procter to injury with the in-form Vince Aso moving in a position to cover.
The Blues have a mountain to climb, already with four losses, another loss would make things significantly more difficult as they fall off the pace within the New Zealand conference.
Their recent form against New Zealand sides has been much publicised in the last week, winning only one of the last 18, so they will not lack for motivation this evening against a Hurricanes side sitting second in the conference after the first seven rounds.
While the Blues have the pack, question marks will again revolve around the play of their halves where Augustin Pulu and Piers Francis will need to be on top of their game. The Hurricanes will see this area as a clear advantage, with TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett looking to control this match.
There are plenty of individual matchups to take note of tonight and one of the juiciest will be Stephen Luatua and Ardie Savea going head to head at no.8 while at second five, the Hurricanes form centre Ngani Laumape lines up against Williams.
Brad Shields also has an opportunity to show he deserves consideration for higher honours, up against the Blues Jerome Kaino at blindside.
Prediction
While the Blues are a capable side, they are yet to demonstrate the belief or ability they can win the tight affairs. Putting in a full 80-minute performance has been a struggle for the Auckland-based franchise and the Hurricanes have shown they have the firepower and experience to win these tight games.
Hurricanes by five.
Join The Roar as we cover what promises to be a cracking New Zealand derby and don’t forget to post your thoughts on the action below.
Chas
Guest
Yep. I'm in Perth (30 yrs) out of Wellington :-) So biased Canes and Force. My son grew up playing with and against DHP, Kane Koteka, Luke Burton and so on. Will be such a travesty if Force are punted. I don't think anyone beyond WA actually realise what is going on here in rugby. And don't tell anybody, but Wessels is as impressive a coach as I have seen. Knew Dave Rennie when he was a teacher and coaching Upper Hutt colts. Anybody who knew him then was in no doubt he would be a great coach. Wessels is similarly impressive. Oz (or SA) should be moving heaven and earth to get him on board. Don't tell anyone though, as an AB supporter I would be seriously worried if they did.
DT
Guest
Hey Chas You're right, of course, there is a multitude of questionable calls that get let go. I guess I was just meaning consistency in each area. To miss an early tackle is bad reefing. To penalise the attacking team for a clean-out from the side, and then fail to do the same to the other team 5 minutes later is also bad refereeing. Na, not a Blues fan (I'm in regional WA). Did enjoy the game though. Always impressed with the ferocity and deft skills the Kiwi teams bring to the game. Cheers
Faith
Guest
The Lions are going to be a handful but on this showing the NZ teams are so skillful that they might have made a huge blunder to play against all SR teams - they will be bruised and battered and if beaten or stretched will be psychologically done in. Barret like this. Read who was something else yesterday. Add Perenara or A Smith, B Smith and oh well ... it'll be a series.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
I think its gone Die Hard but they might cause a few of the contenders some heartache yet...
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
BB was the difference.... hes a handful trying to contain!
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Thanks Marius... I thought we had it so a little bit disappointing. No disappointed by Tana's boys effort though ... I think they are building..
Chas
Guest
I am a Canes supporter DT, I was throwing things at the TV just prior toBlues last try when Ardie Savea was tackled early with Canes hot on attack. Not called. Try at that stage would have sealed it. I agree reffing was inconsistent but both sides suffered. Are you sure you are not a Blues fan?
Digby
Roar Guru
Link to Geoffs blog here - http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/04/15/rebels-vs-brumbies-super-rugby-live-scores-blog-2/#comment-5623545
Diggercane
Guest
Thanks Marius!
Digby
Roar Guru
Its just good fun mate ;)
Marius Ciliers
Roar Guru
Congrats Digger. Some poor luck there Marauders. In the end the Canes wanted it more. Wish i could see more of that urgency i saw in the Canes within the Blues squad. RT,i was rooring for your boys tonight. They played well,a tad more urgency in attack,faster bullet passes thats on point and some faster decision making might have turned this match into something else entirely. Congrats Canes,well played.
Lara
Guest
BB is just brilliant, but the Canes forwards had to work hard . The Blues are not far from collecting a win.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
The pit stops give him more gas late in the game apparently
Faith
Guest
In the end the Canes just woke up and their big names just took it to the Blues. Barrett. No one can change a game in a moment like this cat. Best player in the world by a mile. A Savea who was quiet won a crucial turnover at the end. Abbott is putting his hand up. On this show the Blues will not beaten by any other non NZ team other than the Lions. Its also just that the NZ teams know how to grind down the Blues ...
Machooka
Roar Guru
I actually challenged him on that very fact... his response was it was 'fun' :)
The Other Steve
Roar Guru
Apart from his frequent 10 minute sit-downs, he's nearly perfect.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Well done Digger! Another great, intense NZ derby - I have no idea how you blog your own team when it's close like that!
DT
Guest
Not a Blues or Canes supporter, so only looking for a good game, which it was. But seriously, Blues fans can feel ripped off there. This ref (is it Mike Fraser?) is always inconsistent IMO. Steven Luatua gets pinged for a clean out from the side as the Blues are hard on attack in the last 10 minutes, effectively stopping their momentum cold. An assistant ref's call. The decision was correct, but happens many many times every game and doesn't get called. In the Canes last flurry b4 the try, there were two occasions within the space of three breakdowns where exactly the same thing happened…and nothing. Officials' lack consistency is infuriating.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I still think they will go close to that last finals spot RT. There is a ways to go yet
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Good game by Blues, no shame in losing to the Canes like that. Canes just had that extra bit of class to take their opportunities.