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The Hurricanes delivered a clinic in the art of finishing to beat the Highlanders 29-12 in a fierce Super Rugby match in Wellington.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Hurricanes 29
Highlanders 12
The Hurricanes will host the last unbeaten team in Super Rugby, the Highlanders, in a top of the Kiwi table derby. Join The Roar for live scores and blogging, starting from 5:35pm AEDT.
So far, the Highlanders have been the most — or only — consistent team in the competition, harvesting a perfect three-from-three win record, and doing it in style.
In contrast to prior years, the Clan has kicked less than the normally run-and-gun Hurricanes, but this season, the world’s best scrumhalf and fullback combination have declined to kick from hand as much as before.
The Highlanders have carried the ball about 25 times more per game than the Hurricanes, albeit the home team is getting about half a metre gain more per carry.
The kicks-from-hand stats for these teams after three matches are essentially identical.
Ben Smith already has run the ball back 28 times, declining to lob-kick, and for good measure, has added ‘try talk-erasure’ to his formidable skillset.
The great powers of SANZAAR have weighed in already, admonishing Smith to cease and desist from this practice of hectoring the referee after conceding a try, pilfering the ball from the kicking tee, and “lawyering up.”
So, it’s back to the old style of referee lobbying, and this is TJP’s strong suit: no scrumhalf bleats as much as the motor-mouth from the capital. No chance of Ben owning the ref’s ear.
The backline Barrett brothers are just as dangerous in general play as the Smiths; and with big Jordie assuming the kicking duties at times, the Canes have only missed a few shots at goal.
So far, the only significant differences have been in ball-handling (the Hurricanes have spilled the pill too much), discipline (the Canes have conceded nine penalties per game), scrum strength (the Canes have been pinged eight times already, for binding and direction issues at scrum time), and tackle effectiveness (the Highlanders are missing fewer tackles, and hitting harder).
The Highlanders’ better body height and ferocity in the tackle is probably the margin at the moment, but this could change in this derby, given how fierce Kiwi rivalries tend to be, with battles of pride all over the park.
Luke Whitelock is playing the best rugby of his life, leading the tournament in ‘dominant tackles,’ and leading his team in carries.
He will be without big bruiser Liam Squire, but the Highlander pack plays as a unit, and they play with a grudge.
The clever Lima Sopoaga, tackle-breaking Tevita Li, deceptively powerful and quick Rob Thompson, and offload king Waiseke Naholo will be jacked up for this one, as they face more hyped foes in the Hurricane backline. Just a glance at that backline reveals the danger.
This rivalry has tended to favour the home team, of late. But the Wellington side will need to lift their play to withstand the rugged visitors.
Look for Ngani Laumape to bend and even break the Highlander midfield cordon, and BBBBB to scoot around, looking for ways to pass, run or kick into space for his lethal finishers to exploit. The Hurricanes also have the better bench.
Brad Shields is not taking his farewell tour lightly. He will leave a mark on the opposition, who must still be hurting from a brutal South Island derby win.
There are game breakers all over the park, and only a deluded pundit would claim to know how it will go. Most likely, the last team to score takes it, and many a plot twist will ensue.
In these situations, I tend to look at the uniforms as a tie-breaker. I know. It’s not scientific.
The capital city’s rugby team is dressed even more yellow than ever, and wind is still their motif, but this year, the raw destructive power of a supercell storm is softened into a diagonal tonal wind pattern, which looks sloppy when they sweat.
The two Smiths are in red-hot form, or should we say, neon-green form, given their ‘highway construction’ away strip. Is there any team with a better home jersey and worse away version?
So, it’s Hurricanes by about two points.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.