The Hurricanes have won 10 of their 11 previous Super Rugby games against the Western Force (L1), including their last nine on the bounce by an average margin of 18 points per game.
The Canes are second on the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman table on points difference behind the Blues, the Western Force are the best Australian franchise sitting sixth on the table, but out of the tournament with one point from two matches.
- The Hurricanes have won 17 of their last 18 Super Rugby games against Australian opposition (L1), including their last five on the bounce across which they have conceded 20+ points in a game only once (64-48 v NSW Waratahs, Round 1, 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman).
- The Western Force last won an away Super Rugby game against a New Zealand team in Round 5, 2014 (31-29 v Highlanders); they have since lost eight consecutive games in New Zealand.
- The Hurricanes have made more clean breaks (22) and beaten more defenders (39) per game than any other team in the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.
- Kyle Godwin has made 27 carries from his two appearances in the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season, the most of any back and the third-most of any player overall (Angus Bell – 35 and Fergus Lee-Warner – 31).
Match detail
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1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand.
2.00: A 22 drop-out to the Western Force.
5.00: Jordie Barrett kicks an early penalty to the corner, but nothing comes of the attack. The next series sees Jeremy Thrush win the Force a kickable penalty.
6.00: PENALTY! Domingo Miotti opens the scoring at McLean Park. 0-3
9.00: The Force has started well, they are doing well at the breakdown, winning another kickable penalty.
11.00: PENALTY! Miotti doubles his side’s lead. 0-6
12.00: Another penalty to the visitors, this time from obstruction at the lineout. The Hurricanes are not on their game.
13.00: TRY! Asafo Aumua gathers a stray lineout throw from Andrew Ready, beats Tomas Cubelli’s weak tackle, and races 70 metres down the righthand touchline to score. Rob Kearney could not catch the hooker, who strolled in for the try. 5-6
14.00: CONVERSION! Jordie Barrett puts the Canes in front. 7-6
17.00: The game is a bit slow; there is no pace or tempo, both teams are kicking away possession, which is making the game stop-start.
18.00: NO TRY! Salesi Rayasi pushed Cubelli in the back when the two players were competing for the bouncing ball, and scores; however, the TMO chalks off the try and awards the Force a penalty inside their 22. 7-6
21.00: Fergus Lee-Warner is pinged for offside, Barrett kicks to the corner.
22.00: TRY! Salesi Rayasi beats Rob Kearney to the corner flag and finishes with expertise in the corner after taking Peter Umaga-Jensen’s long skip-pass. 12-6
23.00: CONVERSION! Barrett makes no mistake from the touchline. 14-6
25.00: The Canes have a defensive scrum after holding up the opposition’s pack in the maul; however, they concede a cheap free-kick at the set-piece. This is a good chance for the Aussies.
27.00: This time the Hurricanes win the penalty at the scrum because the Force’s front row collapsed the set-piece.
29.00; A blindside attack from the scrum sees the Hurricanes set up camp inside the Force’s 22.
30.00: After 10 phases, the home team wins a penalty for a high tackle on Aumua, Barrett kicks to the corner.
31.00: Superb defending by the visitors to stop the home team’s maul. That could be a big moment at this stage.
33.00: A six-phase attack earns the Force a penalty on the halfway line, it allows Miotti to set up an attacking lineout inside the Hurricanes’ 22.
35.00: Good work by the Hurricanes forwards, who hold up the opposition’s pack and win the turnover.
38.00: TRY! Tim Anstee is stripped of the ball by Tyrel Lomax. The Canes counter-attack at speed to the left where Du’Plessis Kirifi breaks a soft tackle and runs away 25 metres to score his side’s third try. 19-6
39.00: MISS! Barrett’s kick is wide. 19-6
41.00; The Force attack before the break, but Barrett cleans up to secure the ball – Luke Campbell clears to his side’s 22 as the hooter sounds.
42.00: Tomas Cubelli is tackled into touch.
The halftime score was Hurricanes 19 Western Force 6
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway at McLean Park, Napier.
44.00: A strong run by Ricky Riccitelli – on for Aumua – ends when skipper Reed Prinsep knocks on in contact with Jeremy Thrush near the Force’s try line. Thrush leaves the field for an HIA.
47.00: TRY! Wes Goosen takes Barrett’s long pass, beats the cover defenders, and scores in the corner. That was too easy. 24-6
48.00: MISS! The kick is wide. 24-6
50.00: Kirifi with an important turnover penalty on his line for the Canes.
54.00: Jason Holland’s men are building slowly through the phases as they enter the Force’s half.
56.00: The Canes attacked down the sideline through Ardie Savea and Kirifi as the hosts go a dozen phases. Ngani Laumape and Ricky Riccitelli carry strong before Scott Scrafton knocks on.
58.00: TRY! Rayasi toes a wayward Ian Prior pass on the Hurricanes’ 5m, gathers the bouncing ball and bolts 85 metres to score under the posts. Game over! 29-6
59.00: CONVERSION! Barrett adds the two. 31-6
63.00: The force are playing for pride, but you don’t get the feeling they will score.
67.00: Tim Sampson will be upset with his team’s display tonight. Mistakes have hampered the Western Australians, but they have looked toothless in attack.
70.00: NO TRY! Thrush has a score chalked off for accidental offsides. 31-6
73.00: TRY! Ngani Laumape ends the game as a contest after some Barrett brilliance. 36-6
75.00: CONVERSION! Barrett makes no mistake. 38-6
78.00: The Canes want more, the Force want to go home.
80.00: TRY! Barrett supplies the dagger. 43-6
81.00: MISS! Barrett can’t convert. 43-6
FULL TIME
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The final score is Hurricanes 43 (19) Western Force 6 (6)
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries – Aumua, Rayasi (2), Kirifi, Goosen, Laumape, Barrett
Pen –
Con – J. Barrett (4)
Drop –
Cards –
Western Force
Tries –
Pen – Miotti (2)
Con –
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Ref 1: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2: Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Mike Fraser
Teams
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Orbyn Leger, 9 Luke Campbell, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep (captain), 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 James Blackwell, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Vince Aso
Western Force
15 Rob Kearney, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Tim Anstee, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Feleti Kaitu’u, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Jack McGregor, 23 Tevita Kuridrani
