The last time these teams met earlier this year, in round five of the tournament, the Hurricanes needed a late Conrad Smith try to secure a win for the Hurricanes in Auckland.
Match details
We are waiting for the kick-off.
0.00: Michael Hobbs gets proceedings under way at Westpac Stadium as he kicks off for the visitors.
1.00: The Hurricanes will get a put-in at a defensive scrum inside their own 22. The Blues look to apply the pressure early on.
2.00: The Blues form a solid rolling maul as they drive their way just 20m from the line. They work through several phases before the Hurricanes are penalised at the breakdown. Piri Weepu will line up a shot at goal.
3.00: Weepu bangs over the kick to hand the Blues an early lead.
6.00: The Hurricanes are able to work their way inside Blues territory as they begin to string together phases. They get a put-in at a scrum just on the Blues' 10m line.
9.00: Conrad Smith dots down in the corner for the opening try of the game following a perfectly weighted cross kick from Beauden Barrett.
11.00: Barrett's conversion attempt is away to the left.
12.00: The Hurricanes work through over ten phases as they look to run the ball from inside their own half.
13.00: The Blues gain vital momentum off the back of a scrum just 15m from the line. Chirs Lowrey is able to get over the line but the TMO rules he has been held up.
15.00: The Hurricanes are penalised at scrum time and Weepu will line up another kick at posts from 20m out.
16.00: Weepu's kick sails over and the Blues regain the lead.
17.00: The Hurricanes gain momentum off the back of the restart as they work their way inside the Blues' 22. They set up a rolling maul and Barrett puts in another cross kick but Rene Ranger is able to claim the mark.
18.00: The Blues are penalised directly in front of the posts for holding on. Barrett prepares for a shot at goal.
19.00: Barrett's kick is successful.
21.00: The Hurricanes are penalised inside their own 22 for not rolling away. Weepu will have his third shot at goal.
23.00: Weepu slots the kick and the Blues regain the lead once more.
26.00: The Blues work through several phases off the back of a scrum on half way. They generate quick ball and are able to gain valuable metres as the Hurricanes are penalised at the breakdown. Weepu lines up a shot at goal from 30m out.
28.00: Weepu bangs over the kick to extend the Blues' lead.
30.00: The Hurricanes work their way inside the Blues' 22 but continue to struggle with ball retention tonight. The ball is knocked into touch by a Blues player and the home side will have a throw-in at a lineout just on the Blues' 10m line.
33.00: Andre Taylor dots down for another superb try, as he runs 30m to score, following a solid break from Cory Jane. Taylor moves to the top of the top try scorers list for 2012.
34.00: Barrett is unable to convert the try.
36.00: Barrett will have another kick at goal after the Blues are penalised just inside half way.
37.00: Barrett's kick sails over to extend the home side's lead.
39.00: Rene Ranger makes a solid break to get the Blues inside the Hurricanes' 22. The Blues begin to string together phases and generate quick ball but they lose possession and the Hurricanes are able to get their way out of jail.
40.00: The half time siren sounds as the Hurricanes punt the ball into touch.
The half time score was Hurricanes 16 Blues 12.
41.00: Barrett gets the second half under way as he kicks off for the home team.
42.00: The Blues continue to battle at the lineout with another skew throw inside their own territory.
43.00: The Hurricanes begin to string together phases and gain momentum inside the Blues' 22. Julian Savea is unable to hold on to a stray pass and the Blues get a put-in at a defensive scrum just 15m from their own line.
47.00: The Blues set up some solid pick-and-drives as they work their way into Hurricanes territory. Ranger loses control of the ball out wide and the Hurricanes get a put-in at a scrum just on the Hurricanes' 10m line.
48.00: The Blues put in a massive scrum as the Hurricanes concede a penalty. Weepu will line up a kick at goal from 42m out.
49.00: Weepu's kick drifts wide and the scoreline remains unchanged thus far in the second half.
53.00: The Hurricanes work their way up into Blues territory. TJ Perenara makes a classy break and off-loads to Barrett who flips a pass to Savea on his outside. He looks to have scored but the TMO rules that his foot was in touch. The Blues have a throw-in at a defensive lineout just 5m out.
54.00: The Hurricanes are penalised for holding on inside Blues territory and Hobbs clears.
57.00: The home side work through over ten phases inside the Blues' half. Julian Savea is able to dot down for the Hurricanes' third try following a strong run from Barrett and a solid off-load from Conrad Smith.
58.00: Barrett is unable to convert the try.
61.00: The Blues affect a turnover on half way. They attempt to work through phases inside Hurricanes territory but are unable to hold on.
64.00: The Blues work their way up inside the Hurricanes' 22. They get within 5m of the line but are penalised for holding on and Barrett clears to get the Hurricanes out of jail.
65.00: Perenara makes a solid break before punting the ball down field into the corner. Reg Goodes gathers and gets over the line but the TMO rules that the footage is inconclusive and the try is not awarded.
67.00: Perenara is able to get over the line and score his fifth try of the tournament after a solid ball off the back of a Hurricanes scrum. Perenara's try results in a bonus point for the home side.
68.00: Barrett converts the try to extend the Hurricanes' lead.
73.00: The Blues have a put-in at a defensive scrum inside their own 22. Rene Ranger kicks a clever up-and-under before running 35m, gathering and off-loading to Benson Stanley who dots down for the Blues.
74.00: Lachie Munro converts the try.
76.00: The Blues look hungry to score as they string together phases along half way. The Hurricanes' defence stands firm as they continue to push the visitors back.
79.00: The Hurricanes are able to work their way within 5m of the line as they put in a period of sustained pressure. Jason Eaten is eventually able to dot down for the home side's fifth try.
80.00: Barrett dots down as the final hooter sounds.
The final score is Hurricanes 35 (16) Blues 19 (12).
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries - C. Smith, A. Taylor, J. Savea, TJ, Perenara, J. Eaton
Pen - B. Barrett 2
Con - B. Barrett 2
Drop -
Cards -
Blues
Tries - B. Stanley
Pen - P. Weepu 4
Con - L. Munro
Drop -
Cards -
Match Officials
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 1: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2: Francisco Pastrana
TMO: Garratt Williamson
Teams
Hurricanes
1. Ben May, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Faifili Levave, 7. Karl Lowe, 8. Victor Vito, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Tim Bateman, 13. Conrad Smith (c), 14. Cory Jane, 15. Andre Taylor.
Replacements: 16. Motu Matu’u, 17. Reg Goodes, 18. Jack Lam, 19. Brad Shields, 20. Chris Eaton, 21. Charlie Ngatai, 22. Alapati Leiua.
Blues
1. Tevita Mailau, 2. Tom McCartney, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Filo Paulo, 5. Ali Williams, 6. Chris Lowrey, 7. Luke Braid (c), 8. Peter Saili, 9. Piri Weepu, 10. Michael Hobbs, 11. George Moala, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Benson Stanley, 14. Rene Ranger, 15. Hadleigh Parkes.
Replacements: 16. James Parsons, 17. Angus Ta'avao, 18. Liaki Moli, 19. Daniel Braid, 20. Alby Mathewson, 21. Lachie Munro, 22. David Raikuna.
