Hurricanes and Brumbies make Super statements

WRAP: The Hurricanes have blown away the Waratahs 57-12 in Wellington.

The Waratahs started both halves with tries but that was all they could celebrate as they were dominated by the hosts.

Winger Kini Naholo crossed for a hat-trick as the Hurricanes were back in the form that won them the minor premiership last year.

In total, the Hurricanes scored 35 unanswered points to run away with the contest.

The Waratahs had high hopes of notching a first win in the New Zealand capital in a decade but will instead return home to Sydney with tails between their legs – and some huge injury concerns.

Cashing in on the first-half loss of NSW backline keys Max Jorgensen and playmaking flyhalf Lawson Creighton, the Hurricanes piled on eight tries to two in Wellington on Friday night.

But coach Dan McKellar will likely be far more concerned about a suspected serious ankle injury for Jorgensen than the half century of points his side leaked.

The star fullback looked to fall victim to a hip-drop tackle before being escorted off the field in the 13th minute.

Creighton and winger Darby Lancaster also failed to see out the half before the Hurricanes turned a 12-point advantage into a runaway victory to jump from eighth to sixth on the ladder.

After opening the scoring with an early try to Creighton, the Waratahs were still in the contest, trailing by 24-12, until another big turning point 10 minutes into the second half.

Stand-in skipper Joey Walton was yellow-carded for cynically trying to pull down a Hurricanes maul, prompting the referee to award the home team a penalty try and send Walton to the sin bin.

There was no coming back as the Tahs conceded 19 points for Walton’s sin.

The Hurricanes raced out to an insurmountable 45-12 lead, then added two more tries to rub salt into the wound.

Super save from Sua’ali’i 🦸‍♂️#SuperRugbyPacific #HURvWAR pic.twitter.com/NJVngyoTdz

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 28, 2025

* Meanwhile the Brumbies moved back inside the top four, surviving a see-sawing struggle with the Highlanders to ride out 34-27 winners.

There were seven lead changes in Canberra, before a late rally from the Brumbies ensured the win.

Andy Muirhead’s 72nd-minute go-ahead try was crucial before Len Ikitau sealed the points, going over with fewer than three minutes remaining to seal a victory the Brumbies almost fumbled.

Stephen Larkham’s side looked the business in the first 40, starving the South Islanders of the ball with smart possession.

They led 15-5 lead at the break, boasting three-quarters of the territory and possession in the first half.

However, the men from Otago roared back with two tries in 15 minutes, leading by four and eyeing an away win to kick-start their campaign.

• All the Friday scores and scorers follow below …

Super Rugby Pacific

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Chiefs

6

5

1

0

22

2

Crusaders

5

4

1

0

19

3

Reds

5

4

1

0

19

4

Brumbies

7

4

3

0

19

5

Waratahs

6

4

2

0

17

6

Hurricanes

6

3

3

0

14

7

Force

6

3

3

0

14

8

Highlanders

6

2

4

0

12

9

Blues

6

1

5

0

7

10

Fijian Drua

6

1

5

0

7

11

Moana Pasifika

5

1

4

0

6

Hurricanes 57-12 Waratahs

Scorers:

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Naholo 3, Roigard, Aumua, Penalty try, Punivai, Shields, Sullivan
Cons: Hohepa 4, Love

Waratahs:
Tries: Creighton, Saunders
Cons: Creighton

Yellow card: Joey Walton (Waratahs, 52)

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Ngatungane Punivai, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 DuPlessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Zach Gallagher, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (co-captain), 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 23 Kade Banks.

Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Archie Saunders, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton (captain), 11 Derby Lancaster, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Ben Grant, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Julian Heaven, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Dobbins, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Lalakai Foketi.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan

Brumbies 34-27 Highlanders

The scorers

For the Brumbies
Tries: Pollard, Alaalatoa, Toole, Muirhead, Ikitau
Cons: Lolesio, Debreczeni 2
Pen: Lolesio

For the Highlanders
Tries: Tangitau 2, Gilbert, Nareki
Cons: Gilbert 2
Pen: Gilbert

Yellow card: Corey Toole (Brumbies, 1)

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Harrison Goddard, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Cadeyrn Neveille, 20 Tuanina Taii Tualima, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Jack Devreczeni, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie; 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.

Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Jordan Kaminski
TMO: James Leckie