Hurricanes
19
Match Complete
Blues
25
| 71 |  | S. Perofeta | ||
| J. Barrett |  | 50 | ||
| J. Moorby |  | 49 | ||
| J. Barrett | | 47 | ||
| S. Rayasi | | 46 | ||
| 39 | | S. Perofeta | ||
| 39 | | H. Sotutu | ||
| 35 | | C. Clarke | ||
| T. Lomax | | 25 | ||
| 20 | | S. Perofeta | ||
| 19 | | P. Tuipulotu | ||
| 9 | | S. Perofeta |
| 3 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
It’s an all-New Zealand blockbuster as the Hurricanes look to continue their undefeated start to 2023 against the Blues. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 5:05pm (AEDT).
New Zealand under-20 international Peter Lakai will replace suspended No. 8 Ardie Savea against the Blues.
Former Crusaders playmaker Brett Cameron will make his Hurricanes debut and Devan Flanders replaces Brayden Iose.
All Blacks hooker Dane Coles takles over from Savea who was rubbed out for one week for his throat-slitting gesture against the Rebels.
The Blues have made just one change despite their loss to the Brumbies last week and that was injury enforced with AJ Lam replacing Mark Telea, who suffered a head knock.
The bench sees Alex Hodgman coming in to replace Ofa Tuungafasi as backup loosehead after the All Blacks prop also suffered a head knock in the 25-20 defeat to the Brumbies.
Game information
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEDT)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Hurricanes $2.60, Blues $1.50 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Hurricanes (1-15): Xavier Numia, Dane Coles, Tyrel Lomax, James Blackwell, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Cameron Roigard, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Julian Savea, Josh Moorby.
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi, Caleb Delany, TK Howden, Jamie Booth, Aidan Morgan, Riley Higgins.
Blues (1-15): Joshua Fusitu’a, Ricky Riccitelli,`James Lay, Patrick Tuipulotu, Cameron Suafoa, Tom Robinson, Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, AJ Lam, Stephen Perofeta.
Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, James Tucker, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Bryce Heem.
Referee: Nic Berry
Kiwi in East Perth
Guest
Frustrating game really. Canes made too many errors and poor decisions. Referee seemed to make things up as he was going along. Beauden is not a world class first five and hasn’t been for a long time, second game in a row with too much aimless kicking. Just can’t understand why anyone thinks he is a #10. It was the same in the Ireland series.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
It was the same when the backs got it to be fair.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Every team gets players from around the country but the Blues are the only team to poach current first choice New Zealand internationals. That's the big difference. The saddest thing is that Barrett is stopping great local talent like Perofeta and Zarn from getting the best opportunities.
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
Thought BB was taken out on his run after his kick through.
smoothy
Roar Rookie
Meanwhile the Chiefs are flying high with Southland’s best product in years at 10 (Highlanders eat your hearts out!) bolstered by AB locks from all over the country… Not to mention a a couple of hot-steppers from Auckland making it look easy out wide. Come down from that ivory tower sir!
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Which one?
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Yeah, the piggies don’t look up and just try to burrow over or barge over. White line fever.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Damn. Well done to the Blues, held on well there. Good close contest that could have gone either way.
James584
Roar Rookie
Congratulations Blues. Exciting, because it was close and very hard fought. Only watched the last 30. Not really top class Kiwi team levels of execution in attack, in my opinion. Or was it?
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
The kiwi sides seem a bit scrappy. Good contest though.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Yeah geez. I hope the Reds and Brumbos can put on a better show.
TC
Roar Rookie
Legal Counter Ruck..Then All off their feet??
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Canes had several opportunities to score out wide but they just tried to bash through a very good Blues front on defence.
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
Pity that there must be a winner. Both were terrible....that include Berry.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Canes should have opted for another quick tap. Dumb.
Ruckit
Roar Rookie
Close one for the blues
Mirt
Roar Rookie
Hoskins on his knees
James584
Roar Rookie
Exactly.
71
Mirt
Roar Rookie
Poor stuff from the touchy too