Top-of-the-table Kiwi derby lives up to the hype amid touching scenes for terminally ill Blues player
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A top-of-the-table Kiwi Super Rugby Pacific derby lived up to the hype amid touching scenes for terminally ill Blues player Cameron Suafoa in Wellington on Saturday night.
The Hurricanes and Blues both wore retro-themed jerseys to mark 30 years since the competition's first-ever game between the same teams in Palmerston North.
The Blues players all sported either blond hair or shaved heads as a mark of respect for teammate Suafoa, who has been given a devastating cancer diagnosis.
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Beauden Barrett of the Blues passes during the round nine Super Rugby match. Getty
The Hurricanes won the match 42-19 with a bonus point to extend their lead at the top of the table to three points from the now second-placed Chiefs.
Jordie Barrett won the battle of the brothers with an accomplished and busy all-around performance at No.12 against ex-Hurricanes superstar Beauden.
"I prefer being on the same side as Beaudy, but it's just the way it is," Jordie said.
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Fehi Fineanganofo of the Hurricanes celebrates with Billy Proctor after scoring a try. Getty
"It wasn't about getting one over my brother. The Blues are a good side who have had the wood on us in recent times. So, look, we've beaten them here at home. We've got to go beat them in Auckland at some stage, and who knows, we may meet them in a final at some stage too. So, yeah, we're just going to keep improving."
Blues captain Sam Darry sent a message to Suafoa.
"I know he'll be watching. Sorry we couldn't get it done for you tonight, but we're all behind you, we love you and we're supporting you the whole way," Darry said.
Ruben Love and Cameron Suafoa of the Maori All Blacks hongi in Wellington. Getty
Having mostly dieted on teams unlikely to feature during the business end of the season, this was the first of six New Zealand derbies in eight weeks, a stretch which is sure to reveal just how good the Hurricanes are.
They passed the first test with flying colours. And then some.
Sure, the Blues were missing two of their best players - captain Dalton Papali'i (back) and Hoskins Sotutu (knee) - and All Blacks prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi (HIA) lasted just 20 minutes, but the Hurricanes are far from injury-free themselves.
Yet they had too much class at Hnry Stadium, outscoring the visitors six tries to three en route to their fifth straight victory.
The bonus point win leaves them sitting pretty atop the log with 30 points from six wins, four points clear of the Chiefs ahead of their tasty clash in Hamilton on Saturday night.
There was no half century this week, something the Hurricanes racked up in three of their last four wins, although it was on the cards when they roared out to a 14-0 lead in as many minutes.
Fullback Callum Harkin and centre Billy Proctor accounted for the early damage, the first after Harkin got on the outside of Cody Vai, before the latter dived over on the back of an impressive set piece strike move which saw Asafo Aumua go close.
It was all Hurricanes, helped by Beauden hoofing the kickoff out on the full.
However, Barrett made amends by pinning the Hurricanes deep inside their 22, setting up the raid which ended with AJ Lam going over under the sticks.
It was all too easy, a stark contrast to the superb try All Black Caleb Clarke finished off out wide a few minutes later as the Blues stormed back into the contest.
After Aumua overthrew a lineout, Clarke expertly finished off a sizzling movement inside the corner flag, despite taking a good shot from Ruben Love.
That was about as good as it got for the Blues.
Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard uncorked one of his trademark snipes from the back of a scrum, setting up flying winger Fehi Fineanganofo's 10th try of the season.
Fineanganofo, who was yellow carded in the second half for a high shot, had plenty of work to do himself, stepping inside the cover defence and making four defenders miss with his speed and agility.
When Aumua roared over via a menacing rolling maul half a dozen minutes into the second half, the Canes train was well and truly rolling with them 28-12 up.
Blues No.8 Malachi Wrampling powered through Roigard and Warner Dearns to haul the Blues back into the contest with a tick under half an hour remaining, only for the Hurricanes to slam the door shut on them with two tries in the space of five minutes
Harkin's second reeked of good fortune after a nothing Love kick ricocheted kindly for him to run in, while Roigard took a quick tap and dived over after Payton Spencer foolishly got himself into trouble attempting to run the ball out of his 22.
Suddenly, the half century was back on against a team that had won five of the last six games between the sides.
Not helped by a needless foot-trip by Isaia Walker-Leawere, it was not to be.
But the Hurricanes delivered, putting 42 points on a Vern Cotter-coached team which is typically a tough nut to crack. A statement, indeed.
