The Hurricanes have continued their winning streak with a 28-19 win over a sloppy, but gritty Lions side.
Final score
Hurricanes 28
Lions 19
The Lions will be looking to bounce back from their last start loss when they run into the enigmatic Hurricanes in Wellington tonight. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 5:35pm AEST.
Super Rugby fans will remember vividly the last time these two sides met. In a heated semi-final affair last season in Johannesburg, the Lions booked their place in the decider, courtesy of a 44-29 comeback win over their New Zealand rivals.
With that in mind, how does tonight’s fixture play out?
First, the Lions.
They were poor last week. Straight off the bat, they were out-enthused, out-thought, and ultimately out-played by an extremely spirited Queensland Reds side, who registered one of their more memorable wins in recent memory.
Head coach Swys De Bruin has responded to this, making no less than eight changes to his starting XV.
A new look front row sees Jacques Van Rooyen and Ruan Dreyer pair up at loose and tighthead props for the first time this season. Marnus Schoeman returns to the starting side in the back-row, whilst a new look centre pairing sees Lionel Mapoe shift into outside centre, where he’ll play outside Harold Vorster.
For the Hurricanes, it’s more of the same needed in order to win this one. They haven’t lost since Round 2, and continue to improve. Their win over the Sunwolves last week was impressive.
They sit one place behind the Crusaders in the New Zealand conference, and will see this as a chance to push their championship claims.
In team news, Ngani Laumape returns in a big boost for Chris Boyd and his team. Vaea Fifita returns in the second row, too.
Nehe Milner-Skudder continues his return from injury off the pine.
Where the game will be won
Home ground advantage.
Both teams have rosters that, if they turn up, can defeat the other. It should be a cracking game, and Swys De Bruin’s men will not be as poor as they were last week. No chance.
That being said, the Hurricanes have a scarcely believable home record against South African teams. The last time they were defeated in Wellington by one, was in 2013. It’s been a long time between drinks.
I expect the Lions will remain thirsty.
Hurricanes by 8.
Join The Roar for live scores of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST.
Whatever the reasons, no Ackermann, no Kriel, no Whiteley, this is not close to tye Lions team of last year
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Full Time 80' - FULL TIME. Match Result: The Hurricanes have continued their winning streak with a 28-19 win over a sloppy, but gritty Lions side. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 19
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
79' - Knock on Canes. Barrett and the Canes are on the Lions line, and they play out the back to Lam who turns it back inside where it's knocked on. This game is petering to a close. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 19
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Try 76' - TRY LIONS! Sylvian Mahuza Against the run of play! The Canes were pushing down the left edge, and they spilt it where Mahuza, fresh off the pine, scooped it and ran 60m to score. Kick is good. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 19
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
70' - It's still an 18 point margin with 10 to run as both sides take a breather with players down. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 12
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
68' - Knock on Lions. Massive shot on Jantjies on the Lions 22 as he was drifting across field looking for runners. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 12
emric
Guest
and now the canes go to sleep
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
62' - Bit of a lull in this one, as both sides trade errors. Lions with it now on halfway off the lineout. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 12
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Try 56' - TRY LIONS! Marnus Schoeman. Schoeman continues his try-scoring run, and the Lions hit back straight away. They turn the ball over off Jantjies' deep kick-off, and two phases later, they burrow over to score. Kick is a shocker. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 12
Fionn
Guest
The Hurricanes and Crusaders too, maybe. The rest of them look more human.
emric
Guest
hurricanes are playing like they should now
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Try 56' - TRY CANES! Ben Lam. Well, it's a three peat for Ben Lam. The Canes have been clinical on the break. Barrett with the initial bust, and then turned it back inside. Two phases later, and they swing left, where Lam gets the last pass and beats one to score his third of the night. What a freak. Kick is over. Hurricanes: 28 Lions: 7
Will E. Ruckit
Guest
Wow! What a try! The Kiwis are playing a different game to everyone else.
Andy
Guest
That try was pure class, forwards and backs linking beautifully classy passes and great timing rugby at its best
Fionn
Guest
And Lam again. Wow.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
50' - Thirty minutes to play in this one as we break for a Lions scrum on their own 22m line. Hurricanes: 21 Lions: 7
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
45' - TRY CANES! Ben Lam. Ben Lam's season from heaven continues. He has his second for the night. The Canes bash the Lions line, and they opt to shift left, where the ball swings to Lam in the corner. He swipes two and dots down one handed under some duress. Kick is on the paint of the left edge, and the posts are swinging in this huge breeze. Tough as they come. Jeez. That is a pearler of a kick. Barrett bangs it down the middle. Hurricanes: 21 Lions: 7
Fionn
Guest
Does Ioane even start at 11 for the All Blacks this year, or does Lam? He's a freak.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
41' - Second half underway, and it's now with the Canes down the right edge. Hurricanes: 14 Lions: 0
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Come on Lions. You are close enough, just dont go to water.