A young Hurricanes fan before the Super Rugby Semi Final match between the Hurricanes and the Brumbies at Westpac Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images
A young Hurricanes fan before the Super Rugby Semi Final match between the Hurricanes and the Brumbies at Westpac Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images
No rowdy revellers played up as they watched the Hurricanes dispose of the Brumbies 29-9 in the Super Rugby semifinal last night.
Police made zero arrests during the match at Wellington Stadium - a successful result, stadium operation commander Inspector John Spence said.
"The event was very well run bythe stadium and overall was a very smooth operation for police," he said.
The 33,000-strong Cake Tin crowd kept themselves in line while remembering late Jerry Collins - the former Hurricanes flanker who died in a car accident in France recently.
Collins played many games for Wellington and his beloved Hurricanes at the ground.
Aisle six in Westpac Stadium had a blue tinge - Collins always tried to squeeze in a game in the blue and white jersey of the Norths club whenever he could - and a giant Hurricanes No 6 replica jersey was spread out on the field before kick-off in tribute.
A handful of current Hurricanes played with Collins but many in this vintage grew up idolising a player who represented the side during some of their best years.
It was during those glory days - think 2000-2009 - when Westpac Stadium used to come alive with big crowds flocking to see what the Hurricanes would serve up next.
They had thrilling players like Tana Umaga, Christian Cullen and Collins in their mix but the new breed have Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett and Nehe Milner-Skudder and 33,460 people were in attendance tonight.
"It is particularly pleasing to run out to that sort of crowd," Hurricanes skipper Conrad Smith said.
