The Hurricanes have played the Sunwolves three times in Super Rugby since 2016; the ‘Canes have won all three matches.
The Hurricanes’ three wins give them a record of winning 100% of their matches against the Sunwolves regardless of venue.
- The Kiwis have won each of their three Super Rugby meetings with the Sunwolves; however, their most recent clash in 2019 was their narrowest victory in that run (29-23) with the Wellington side having to overturn a halftime deficit of 13 points.
- The Hurricanes have won 22 of their last 23 Super Rugby matches when hosting sides from outside New Zealand, their 20-28 defeat to the Jaguares the only blemish in that run.
- The Sunwolves have won just once in New Zealand in their Super Rugby history (L6), that victory did come last year, however, a 30-15 win away to Chiefs.
- The Hurricanes have won the most turnovers on average of any side in Super Rugby this season (9.7), while they’ve also conceded the third-fewest turnovers per game (13.3).
- The Sunwolves’ Mike Stolberg has made 41 tackles in his three games this season, of players to feature more than once this campaign only Crusaders flanker Tom Christie (19.7) has averaged more tackles than the Sunwolves lock (13.7).
Match detail
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1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in New Zealand for this round 5 Super Rugby clash.
3.00: The Sunwolves win an early penalty and kick for the corner; they go several phases but lose possession.
4.00: TRY! Michael Stolberg dots down for the visitors after a well-worked move and inside pass from Jarred Adams off another lineout as the visitors take an early lead. 0-5
5.00: CONVERSION! Jumpei Ogura adds the extras. 0-7
7.00: The Hurricanes counter-attack through Ngani Laumape, but the big ball-carrying centre runs into traffic and is knocked backwards. The ball is recycled and sent wide, but nothing comes of the move.
9.00: Laumape sends Vince Aso through a gap, but again, the move breaks down when Aso loses the ball in contact.
11.00: Alex Horan carries the ball inside his in-goal, but Laumape dives on the fullback when he is on the floor, winning his team a lucky penalty.
12.00: TRY! Kobus Van Wyk picks up Laumape’s bounce-pass after Aso’s mini-break opened up a lane for the former Sharks winger, who dances through two tackles to score. 5-7
14.00: CONVERSION! Fletcher Smith levels. 7-all
16.00: The visitors win a penalty in a kickable position.
17.00: PENALTY! Ogura puts his side back in front. 7-10
18.00: Gareth Evans wins his side a penalty after some great work at the breakdown. The ball is booted to the 22.
19.00: TRY! Van Wyk bounces a defender before combining with Aso, who sends Chase Tiatia over for the ‘Canes’ second five-pointer of the afternoon. 12-10
21.00: CONVERSION! Smith slots the wide conversion! 14-10
24.00: A couple of reset scrums on the Japanse 22.
25.00: TRY! Tiatia has another! The forwards won the scrum-penalty, TJ Perenara took the penalty very quickly, sending the ball wide to Aso, whose bounce-pass is collected by the on-rushing fullback to score. 19-10
26.00: CONVERSION! Smith makes no mistake. 21-10
28.00: The Sunwolves look ragged; they are missing first-time tackles, while their set-piece is creaking, to be kind.
29.00: TRY! Perenara goes to the blindside, off another driving maul, to the looping run of Van Wyk, who speeds clear to dot down in the corner for his second of the day. 26-10
30.00: CONVERSION! Smith bangs over the wide conversion. 28-10
33.00: Another big scrum by the home side earns them a penalty. Aso and Laumape open up the visitors with some hard, fast running, and are into the opposition’s 22.
35.00: NO TRY! Perenara is in on the act now, diving over after the centre-field break by his team-mates; however, Laumape’s pass to Aso is forward in the build-up. 28-10
38.00: Ben Lam runs down the touchline, bouncing three defenders before being knocked into touch by Rudy Paige and James Dargaville.
40.00: The Hurricanes mount one last attack before the hooter.
41.00: Nothing comes of the final play, but this game is over!
The halftime score was Hurricanes 28 Sunwolves 10
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway at McLean Park, Napier, where the Hurricanes have all but wrapped up this game with a stunning first-half display.
41.00: TRY! Ben Lam gets in on the act after Smith’s mini-break, combining with Tiatia, who sent the wing away in the corner. 33-10
42.00: MISS! Smith’s kick is wide. 33-10
43.00: TRY! Perenara finally gets his try! Asafo Aumua sells a dummy, cuts inside the defender before being tackled short of the whitewash; however, the scrumhalf is there to pick up and walk over. 38-10
45.00: MISS! Another missed conversion by Smith. 38-10
46.00: TRY! Another runaway score from deep; this is a disgraceful performance from the Japan outfit. 43-10
47.00: CONVERSION! The easy kick is good from in front. 45-10
49.00: Just blow the final whistle already ref, this is carnage.
52.00: Can you believe it, the Hurricanes have not scored for a few minutes?
55.00: It’s a bit scrappy as the ‘Canes start playing basketball from their 22.
56.00: TRY! HAT-TRICK for Van Wyk, who waltzes over after Aso’s unselfish pass put him away in the corner. 50-10
58.00: MISS! Smith cannot convert, but the half-century is on the board. 50-10
62.00: TRY! Laumape is enjoying himself, scoring under the posts after another turnover from inside his half. 55-10.
63.00: CONVERSION! Tiatia takes over from Smith, who is off, and his first kick is good. 57-10
66.00: TRY! Siosaia Fifita runs over two defenders before carrying another over the chalk for a superb score. 57-15
67.00: MISS! The conversion is no good. 57-15
72.00: Almost another for Laumape, but the pass is forward.
74.00: The game is slowing down, although, you feel the home team can score three more in the remaining five minutes.
76.00: TRY! Aso gets a deserved try after chasing his kick and dotting down after a favourable bounce. 62-15
79.00: MISS! Tiaita’s kick is shanked well wide. 62-15
81.00: The hooter sounds, the ball is kicked out.
FULL TIME
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The final score is Hurricanes 62 (28) Sunwolves 15 (10)
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries – Van Wyk (3), Tiatia (2), Lam, Perenara, Evans, Laumape, Aso
Pen –
Con – Smith (5), Tiatia
Drop –
Cards –
Sunwolves
Tries – Stolberg, Fifita
Pen – Ogura
Con – Ogura
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Federico Anselmi
Assistant Ref 1: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2: Dan Waenga
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Teams
Head Coach: Jason Holland
15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Kobus Van Wyk, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 TJ Perenara (captain), 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Ben May, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 James Marshall, 23 Peter Umaga-Jensen.
Head Coach: Naoya Okubo
15 Alex Horan, 14 Siosaia Fifita, 13 Keisuke Moriya (co-captain), 12 Shogo Nakano, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Jumpei Ogura, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jake Schatz (co-captain), 7 Mitch Jacobson, 6 Tevita Tupou, 5 Michael Stolberg, 4 Kotaro Yatabe, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Jarred Adams.
Replacements: 16 Efitusi Maafu, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Shunsuke Nunomaki, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 JJ Engelbrecht, 23 Tautalatasi Tasi.
