Hurricanes vs Chiefs: Super Rugby live scores, blog

B. Barrett	74
S. Rayasi	73
B. Barrett	57
A. Savea	55
W. Goosen	50
	43	M. McKenzie
	42	L. Boshier
B. Barrett	32
T. Perenara	31
	28	A. Moeakiola
	25	M. McKenzie
	23	L. Jacobson
B. Barrett	17
K. Leaupepe	16
B. Barrett	7
J. Barrett	6
B. Barrett	3
J. Barrett	3

7	Tries	3
6	Conversions	2
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Field Goals	0

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The Hurricanes will welcome their conference rivals the Chiefs to Westpac Stadium on Saturday evening as Round 11 of Super Rugby continues. It’s pretty much do or die time for the Chiefs so expect fireworks as the visitors look to keep their season alive. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of this exciting clash starting from 5:35pm AEST.

Unfortunately for the traveling Chiefs, a difficult game against one of the top teams in the competition has gotten harder with arguably their two best players out.

Damian McKenzie is obviously still out injured and heroic All Black Brodie Retallick is on one of his mandated rest weeks.

Considering the awesome lock was out last week with injury, the enforced rest this week isn’t a bad thing as it should help his recovery – however a well-rested Retallick won’t be as important if he’s fighting fit for games that no longer really matter.

There is some good news for the Chiefs as they have an improved front row with Angus Ta’avao returning to his preferred side of the scrum and international hooker, Nathan Harris back in after missing out last week’s loss to the Lions.

While the Hurricanes have been picking up the wins this season – six wins from nine games and just two losses – they have not been anywhere near as impressive as many expected.

In five of their six wins they’ve won by six points or fewer – that’s not like a team that includes attacking weapons like both Beauden and Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Chase Tiatia and TJ Perenara.

The reality is that the men from Wellington just haven’t quite clicked yet this year as a team. They have had individuals playing well for sure – Ardie Savea for example is having one of the best seasons of his career – but it’s as a unit that they haven’t come together yet.

Both Barretts and Savea missed last week’s match against the Sunwolves and so expect to see them fresh and eager. Tiatia will want to impress on the wing where he replaces Ben Lam who picked up a leg injury on the road in Round 10.

The good news for the Chiefs is that they Canes have not been able to find that seamless rhythm so far this season and can be vulnerable.

However the bad news for the Chiefs is that even though the Canes have not found that rhythm, they have still been finding ways to win. If they do click in this game then the Chiefs could be in for a very long night.

Prediction
The Canes have been desperate to impress over the past few weeks and against a weakened Chiefs side that is low on confidence, form and missing key talent, the home side are going to fancy their chances.

The Canes will still need to put in a strong forwards performance to set a platform to unleash their backs but look to see Beauden Barrett force the Chiefs back early and pounce on any mistakes.

Hurricanes to win by 12 points.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST on Saturday.

Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Date: Saturday 26th April 2019
When: 5:35pm AEST
TV: Foxsports
Betting: Hurricanes $1.22, Chiefs $4.25
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referee: Mike Fraser, Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Shane McDermott

Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett
14 Wes Goosen
13 Matt Proctor
12 Ngani Laumape
11 Chase Tiatia
10 Beauden Barrett
9 TJ Perenara (c)
8 Reed Prinsep
7 Ardie Savea
6 Vaea Fifita
5 Kane Le’aupepe
4 James Blackwell
3 Ben May
2 Asafo Aumua
1 Fraser Armstrong

Replacements
16 Ricky Riccitelli
17 Xavier Numia
18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere
20 Sam Henwood
21 Richard Judd
22 James Marshall
23 Salesi Rayasi

Chiefs
15 Solomon Alaimalo
14 Sean Wainui
13 Tumua Manu
12 Anton Lienert-Brown
11 Ataata Moeakiola
10 Marty McKenzie
9 Brad Weber
8 Tyler Ardron
7 Lachlan Boshier
6 Luke Jacobson
5 Mitchell Brown
4 Michael Allardice (c)
3 Angus Ta’avao
2 Nathan Harris
1 Atu Moli

Replacements
16 Liam Polwart
17 Tevita Mafileo
18 Sosefo Kautai
19 Taleni Seu
20 Jesse Parete
21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22 Stephen Donald
23 Alex Nankivell

2019 Form
Hurricanes – WWLWD
Chiefs – LWWWD

Played 34
Hurricanes won 17
Chiefs won 15
Drawn 2

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108

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