RECAP: Hurricanes v Highlanders
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Five encounter between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders in Wellington.
MATCH REPORT: Hurricanes v Highlanders
Eighteen of the last 22 Super Rugby clashes between the Hurricanes and Highlanders have been decided by a margin of seven points or fewer, including their last two meetings on the bounce.
The Hurricanes have lost their last two Super Rugby games on home turf. The last time they lost more in succession at home was four-game stretch across the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.
The Highlanders have scored the opening try of the game in each of their last two Super Rugby meetings with the Hurricanes, after doing so only once in nine meetings prior. However, they’ve gone on to lose their last two encounters with the Hurricanes.
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Teams
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Wes Goosen.
Highlanders: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Sio Tomkinson, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Jack Whetton, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Teariki Ben-Nicholas.
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant referees: James Doleman, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Mike Fraser
