Love makes All Blacks flyhalf statement as Hurricanes secure top spot

SATURDAY WRAP: The Hurricanes will finish the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific regular season on top after a 45-28 win over the Highlanders at Hnry Stadium.

In doing so, it ensures the finals series runs through Wellington (should they keep winning) after yet another dominant victory

Clark Laidlaw’s side just need a victory to wrap up top of the table after the Chiefs’ defeat to the Crusaders, but secured yet another winning bonus point, reflecting their dominance.

The Hurricanes have built their title campaign on their blistering starts and this was no different as Josh Moorby scored his 13th of the season inside two minutes.

The job got significantly harder for the visitors after prop Daniel Lienert-Brown was red-carded for a high shot on Devan Flanders.

Lienert-Brown collected the flanker high in the neck, forcing Flanders from the field early as the incident was upgraded from a yellow.

With the Highlanders down to 14, the lethal Hurricanes backline delivered to power them to a 21-0 lead.

It started when Kini Naholo dived over, followed by a brilliant individual effort from Moorby to set up Flanders’ replacement, Du’Plessis Kirifi.

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens got the Highlanders on the board after out-sprinting Ruben Love to his own grubber.

But Love answered back instantly with a pair of filthy steps for his first of the year.

Fellow All Black Timoci Tavatavanawai crossed before half-time to reduce the advantage.

Both teams found themselves down to 14 to start the second, with Negate Punivai and Xavier Tito-Harris yellow-carded for foul play.

Naholo took instant advantage with a powerful burst to deliver his second to further their lead. Adam Lennox hit back after sustained pressure on the Hurricanes line, giving the visitors hope.

But the comeback ended with a double strike, started with a clean break from Brayden Iose straight through the defence.

Eretara Enari sealed the win with 20 minutes to go after a smart snipe down the short side.

Lucas Casey got a consolation try for the Highlanders after he was denied earlier in the second half. It came off the back of several scrum penalties against the hosts, leading to Pouri Rakete-Stones sitting down for ten.

But the night was all about the Hurricanes as they controlled the lead for their 11th victory of the year.

They’ll finish the season against the Crusaders in Christchurch, sitting nine points ahead of the second-place Chiefs.

As for the Highlanders, their season is over ahead of next week’s bye, potentially dropping to as low as tenth pending results.

In the other fixture, Jock Campbell has scored a try with just two minutes remaining as the Queensland Reds overcame a huge scare to beat Moana Pasifika 33-31 and all but secure a Super Rugby Pacific finals berth.

The Reds led 26-7 early in the second half of Saturday’s match in Auckland, but Moana piled on the next three tries to take the lead as a boilover loomed.

Down by five points and with the clock ticking over to the 79th minute, the Reds made the most of a scrum by swinging the ball to fullback Campbell for the levelling try.

Ben Volavola made no mistake with the conversion from straight in front, with the Reds holding firm for victory.

“They came home with a wet sail. It was a set play for us, and thankfully it worked,” Campbell told Stan after the match.

The Western Force (22 points) still have a mathematical chance of pipping the Reds for sixth spot, but they would need to win their final two games with a bonus point in each, plus rely on Queensland losing to Fijian Drua next week.

The Reds (7-6) can finish as high as fourth, but they will need the Crusaders and Brumbies to slip up next week.

Moana have now slumped to 12 straight losses, with their only win this season coming in round one when they defeated Fijian Drua.

The Western Force’s finals hopes are officially over despite posting a gutsy 19-15 Super Rugby Pacific win over Fijian Drua in Perth.

Hurricanes 45-28 Highlanders

The scorers:

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Naholo 2, Love, Iose, Kirifi, Moorby, Enari
Cons: Love 5

For Highlanders:
Tries: Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Casey, Tavatavanawai, Lennox
Cons: Millar 4

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Ngane Punivai, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-captain), 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Devan Flanders, 6 Warner Dearns, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Pasilio Tosi, 3 Asafo Aumua, 2 Siale Lauaki.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Tom Allen, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Jone Rova.

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Xavier Tito-Harris, 13 Jona Nareki, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jonah Lowe, 10 Cam Millar, 9 Nic Shearer, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Lucas Casey, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Tomas Lavanini, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Mau, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Stanley Solomon, 23 Meihana Grindlay.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper

Moana Pasifika 31-33 Reds

The scorers:

For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Pulu, Tupou Ta’eiloa, Leota, Penalty Try
Cons: Pellegrini 3
Pen: Pellegrini

For Queensland Reds:
Tries: Ryan 2, Campbell, Pritchard, Canham.
Cons: Gordon 3, Volvavola

Teams:

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Israel Leota, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai.
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Alefosio Aho, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Faletoi Peni, 23 Tuna Tuitama.

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Treyvon Pritchard, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Filipo Daugunu, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Massimo De Lutiis, 2 Josh Nasse, 1 George Blake.
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Seru Uru, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Lachie Anderson.

Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan

Western Force 19-15 Fijian Drua

The scorers:

For Western Force:
Tries: Tizzano, Ekuasi, Lomax;
Cons: Burey 2

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Salawa, Togiatama
Con: Valetini
Pen: Valetini

Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Max Burey, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vailoni Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Boston Fakafanua, 23 Kurtley Beale.

Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Taniela Rakuro, 13 Maika Tuitubou, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Isoa Tuwai, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (captain), 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Meli Tuni.
Replacements: 16 Sairusi Ravudi, 17 Penaia Cakobau, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Isoa Nasilasila, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23 Iosefo Namoce.

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson