Hurricanes 42
Blues 19
There can be few doubts now about the Hurricanes’ title chances in 2026.
In a 42-19 win over the Blues in Wellington last night, the Super Rugby Pacific leaders continued their strong form to suggest that, even against the best of the rest, they are going to take some stopping.
It was a match that many had circled on the calendar as the two teams came into the contest in the top spots on the ladder.
With the Hurricanes yet to play the Blues, Chiefs or Crusaders yet this season, it was a match that many expected to be revealing of just how good the Hurricanes team is.
A Blues team who have continually improved as the competition has gone on, and a team who have proven they stay in the contest and find a way to win, it had all the makings of a blockbuster.
And for about 60 minutes, it lived up to its billing. The two sides traded blows through the first half, and again early in the second, but the Hurricanes blew the visitors away with 14 unanswered points in the final quarter of the contest.
“It feels good, particularly after a bye,” Hurricanes captain Jordie Barrett told Sky Sport.
“We showed patches in that first half like we were still on bye week, but it’s a very good Blues side who challenged us in different parts of their game in the first half. We regrouped really well to come up with good solutions and put some points on, which is good.
“So that’s pleasing. We’ll keep getting better, hopefully.”
The evening got off to a horrible start for the Blues when Beauden Barrett put the kick-off out on the full.
Not needing to be invited to dictate the play twice, the Hurricanes took that error and immediately built from it.
The hosts enjoyed plenty of early ball to put the Blues under pressure, and it was Callum Harkin who eventually got the scoring started. The Hurricanes’ fullback found himself with the ball in space, and was able to simply outpace and run around Blues winger Codemeru Vai to score.
The Hurricanes kept the pressure on and extended their lead to 14-0 after 15 minutes when second five-eighth Jordie Barrett put midfield partner Billy Proctor over following a big charge from hooker Asafo Aumua.
But just as it was a Beauden Barrett kick that gave the Hurricanes the early advantage, the Blues No 10 was the one to get his side on the front foot, with a well-placed kick that gave Harkin little room to move.
It resulted in an attacking lineout for the Blues, and AJ Lam scored soon afterwards as several attempts from the forwards to bash their way over had drawn the defence in.
That kicked the Blues into gear as the visitors enjoyed a period in control. Left wing Caleb Clarke crossed in the 27th minute to close the gap. However his counterpart Fehi Fineanganofo continued his impressive try-scoring ways to see the hosts hold a 21-12 lead at the break.
There was a remarkable occurrence when play resumed, as Hurricanes No 10 Ruben Love repeated the error of his Blues counterpart and sent the ball out on the full from the kick-off.
An Aumua try early in the second half extended that lead, but a Fineanganofo yellow card for a high shot opened the door for the Blues.
They were able to strike with a try through flanker Malachi Wrampling, but the Hurricanes were able to keep the damage to just seven points before they were back to 15.
A second try to Harkin and one to Roigard late in the second half pushed the lead out. The Hurricanes did finish the game with 14 on the field after lock Isaia Walker-Leawere was sent to the sin bin for tripping Beauden Barrett, but the Hurricanes made a statement for their sixth win of the season.
In another unusual occurrence, they will again be in a top-of-the-table clash next week when they visit the Chiefs in Hamilton.
With the Blues losing to the Hurricanes, the Chiefs jumped into second on the ladder following their demolition of Moana Pasifika on Saturday afternoon.
Hurricanes 42 (Callum Harkin 2, Billy Proctor, Fehi Fineanganofo, Asafo Aumua, Cam Roigard tries; Ruben Love 6 cons)
Blues 19 (AJ Lam, Caleb Clarke, Malachi Wrampling tries; Beauden Barrett 2 cons)
HT: 21-12