The Hurricanes host the Chiefs on Friday in Wellington and will be looking to end a two-match losing streak to the Hamilton side who they have not beaten since 2016.
Last year in 2017 the Hurricanes and Chiefs met twice and the Chiefs won both matches – one in Wellington and one in Hamilton.
- Six of the last seven games between the Hurricanes and Chiefs have been decided by a margin of eight points or fewer, with the Chiefs picking up four wins in that time.
- The Chiefs are on the hunt for back-to-back away wins against the Hurricanes for the first time since a three-game run from 1997 to 2001.
- Indeed, the Hurricanes have won seven of their last eight games at home against fellow New Zealand teams; however, their only loss in that time came against the Chiefs.
- The Chiefs have won their last two games away from home, the last time they won more was a five-game streak from February to April 2016.
- Beauden Barrett has scored 10+ points in seven of his last nine games against the Chiefs and has provided three try assists in his last four games against them.
Match detail
Late change for tonight’s match – Michael Fatialofa replaces Sam Lousi with Murray Douglas coming on to the bench
We are waiting for the kick-off.
1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Wellington for this all-New Zealand clash.
3.00: The Hurricanes, after being under some early pressure, win the penalty and clean their lines.
4.00: Ben Lam takes three Chiefs defenders in to touch and the corner flag.
5.00: Another Hurricanes’ penalty is booted into touch inside the Chiefs 22.
7.00: TRY! Ben Lam takes Ngani Laumape’s offload and bursts through three defenders, who all slipped off the big man. The winger switched the ball in his hands and shrugged off Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Charlie Ngatai and Sean Wainui to score under the posts. 5-0
8.00: CONVERSION! Jordie Barrett adds the extras. 7-0
10.00: The Chiefs have a chance to get some early points, themselves with a penalty attempt from 30 metres and slightly to the left.
11.00: PENALTY! Damian McKenzie makes no mistake. 7-3
13.00: Tahuriorangi’s quick thinking earns the Chiefs a scrum. The halfback, from an on-side position, knocked the ball out of his opposite number Jamie Booth’s hands.
14.00: Sam Henwood is off after failing an HIA. Gareth Evans has moved to the open-side and Reed Prinsep to No 8. The Hurricanes win the scrum-penalty, but this time, opt to take a shot at goal.
15.00: PENALTY! Jordie Barrett extends his side’s lead back to seven. 10-3
17.00: Karl Tu’inukuafe is on for Aiden Ross, who is down with an ankle injury. Angus Ta’avao-Matau was tackled but landed on Ross’s ankle – it doesn’t look good for Ross. This has been a long stoppage.
18.00: Ta’avao-Matau is immediately pinged for an early entry. Hurricanes opt for another scrum.
19.00: Vaea Fifita busts through the middle of the ruck and races 40 metres down the field before Wainui puts him to ground. Booth’s pass is errant, or Jordie Barrett was away for five points.
22.00: This game has been stop-start because of all the injuries and injury assessments; it’s taking an age.
24.00: Lam beats three defenders after running from inside his 22. He passes to Jordie Barrett, who looked to be away for the score, but a great tackle from Solomon Alaimalo sees the fullback lose the ball into touch. The move started from QB Beauden Barrett, who launched a line-drive instead of a lineout which set up the play. Patriots, anybody?
27.00: Beauden Barrett is penalised for sealing off the entry at the ruck. McKenzie takes it quickly, but the opportunity is lost after another knock-on. The chip-kick was probably the better option, rather than the offload.
30.00: Both sides are showing attacking intent from deep, but the handling has been errant. Now it’s time for the obligatory kicking duel which results in a Canes’ lineout.
34.00: Big scrum by the visitors, who are awarded the penalty. Sam Cane points to the posts.
35.00: MISS! McKenzie’s attempt is wide. 10-3
36.00: Jamie Nutbrown penalises Fifita for a high-shot on Cane. McKenzie sends the ball into the home team’s 22.
37.00: Evans wins the turnover at the ruck. Liam Messam is done for a high-shot on Evans; Beauden Barrett clears the penalty near halfway.
39.00: Johnny Faauli breaks and runs into the Hurricanes’ 22. McKenzie went wide after some quick-ball before Beauden Barrett intercepts the pass and races away, however, the penalty had been awarded for offsides.
41.00: PENALTY! McKenzie makes no mistake, this time. 10-6
The half-time score was Hurricanes 10 Chiefs 6
41.00: PEEEEP! we are back underway at Westpac Stadium.
43.00: Sensational start to the second-half. Beauden Barrett swoops on a loose ball and races away. Lam knocked Sean Wainui’s hand and the ball went backwards. The first-five chips and chases with Brodie Retallick in the footrace. Both dive for the rolling ball, but the referee (and TMO) decide to award the try to Barrett. 15-6
43.00: CONVERSION! Jordie Barrett converts his brother’s score. 17-6
45.00: TRY! Beauden Barrett’s cross-kick is collected by Ngani Laumape, who beat Anton Lienert-Brown in the air, before breaking away to dot down. 22-6
46.00: MISS! The conversion sails wide. 22-6
48.00: A wonderful chance is butchered by Charlie Ngatai, who kicks instead of playing Alaimalo on his left. The winger would have had a clear run down the touchline – poor decision making.
53.00: Beauden Barrett is having a day. He breaks, but instead of playing the outside support runners, he goes to the boot; this time it doesn’t come off.
55.00: Michael Fatialofa is pinged for going off his feet. The Hurricanes have the Chiefs under the pump.
57.00: Alaimalo’s break has set up the Chiefs with an excellent opportunity with a five-metre lineout.
59.00: TRY! Lachlan Boshier finds space on the outside and runs away for the Chiefs’ first try. McKenzie kept a broken play alive, played Ngatai before the fullback’s long pass opened up space. 22-11
60.00: CONVERSION! McKenzie slots the touchline kick. 22-13
63.00: The Chiefs have turned on the style and have the Hurricanes under some pressure.
65.00: Alaimalo is hit hard by Matt Proctor, but the centre knocks on inside the Chiefs’ 22.
68.00: Another handling mistake kills a Chiefs attack.
71.00: Both teams are emptying their benches. The Chiefs are blown for offsides; it’s the try-scorer.
72.00: Barrett sends the ball to the corner.
73.00: The Chiefs survive after winning a turnover and breaking out from their 22. The Chiefs still have a (slim) chance while Damian McKenzie is on the park.
77.00: Boshier is penalised for kicking through the ruck. Ihaia West kicks to touch.
78.00: Time is running out for the Chiefs.
80.00: The Chiefs spill the ball, concede a penalty and that’s the game. Jordie Barrett will kill the clock with a long-range effort.
81.00: PENALTY! He makes no mistake. 25-13
Full-Time.
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The final score: Hurricanes 25 (10) Chiefs 13 (6)
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries – Lam, B. Barrett, Laumape
Pen – J. Barrett (2)
Con – J. Barrett (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Chiefs
Tries – Boshier
Pen – D. McKenzie (2)
Con – D. McKenzie
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown
Assistant Ref 1: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2: Cam Stone
TMO: Glenn Newman
Teams
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Murray Douglas, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen.
Chiefs
15 Charlie Ngatai, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao-Matau, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Luke Jacobson, 20 Liam Messam, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Alex Nankivell.
