Hurricanes v Highlanders: what you need to know
Photo:
RNZ
Hurricanes v Highlanders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 16 May
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
The Hurricanes are on the up, coming off their bye week and two good wins before that. Clark Laidlaw's side is currently sixth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder and in the play-off hunt, so will be confident of getting the full five points out of this one. The Highlanders also had last weekend off but things have been steadily getting more desperate for them, they're currently in 10th spot and the main motivation now will simply be to not finish last.
Timoci Tavatavanawai during the Highlanders v Hurricanes, Super Rugby Pacific match, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
Photo:
Michael Thomas/ActionPress
Hurricanes:
1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Zach Gallagher, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Peter Lakai, 8. Brayden Iose, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Ngatungane Punivai, 12. Riley Higgins, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Bailyn Sullivan, 15. Callum Harkin
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Fatafehi Fineanganofo
Highlanders:
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Mitch Dunshea, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Sean Withy, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Taine Robinson, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13. Tanielu Tele'a, 14. Jonah Lowe, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Bench: 16. Soane Vikena, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Sosefo Kautai, 19. Oliver Haig, 20. Michael Loft, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Cameron Millar, 23. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Brett Cameron of the Hurricanes during the Super Rugby Pacific match, Crusaders Vs Hurricanes, at the Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 15 March, 2024.
Photo:
John Davidson / Photosport
More good news on the injury front now that the Canes not only have a fully fit midfield, but now some depth at first five. Brett Cameron is back ahead of schedule and comes onto the bench, which means now Laidlaw should be free to move Ruben Love back to fullback in the coming weeks. Zach Gallagher is also back at lock, while Bailyn Sullivan moves to the wing to replace Kini Naholo.
Jona Nareki during the Brumbies v Highlanders, Super Rugby Pacific match, GIO Stadium, Canberra.
Photo:
Jaye Grieshaber/ActionPress
Taine Robinson moves back into first five for the Highlanders, while Jona Nareki and Tanielu Tele'a come back from injury to bolster the backline. A reshuffle in the loose forwards sees Sean Withy move to number eight to replace Hugh Renton, Veveni Lasaqa starts at openside.
Billy Proctor of the Hurricanes scores try during Super Rugby Pacific match - Hurricanes v Waratahs at Sky Stadium, Wellington.
Photo:
Elias Rodriguez / Photosport
The Hurricanes have won their last eight Super Rugby Pacific matches against the Highlanders, which is their longest win streak against them in Super Rugby history.
The Highlanders have won only one of their last eight Super Rugby Pacific matches away from Forsyth Barr Stadium - a 31-29 victory against Moana Pasifika. They've lost each of their three games away from the venue since then, conceding 36.3 points per game.
Despite only being back for two games, Billy Proctor has beaten 7.3 defenders per 80 minutes. That's the best average of any player in the competition.
''The Hurricanes are a quality side with lots of All Blacks. When we played them earlier, they were a team in a really tough position, and they've been able to battle their way out and into finals footy, which highlights the quality of their roster.'' - Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.
"Pretty big news for us is that Brett Cameron is back on the bench. His ability to rehab and recover faster than any of us thought. The work he and our medical crew have done has been unreal, and they deserve a special mention. He's good to go." - Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.
Hurricanes 20 - 18 Highlanders
If the Canes do go on and make something happen this season, this game will be seen as their turning point. A massive defensive effort in the second half saw them defend a slender lead, including a couple of clutch penalties on their own line. Ruben Love scored the winning try but really the team's mindset went from losers to winners due to the sheer bravery of the tackling.
Since that last meeting, the Canes have gotten much better and the Highlanders a lot worse. This should be a comfortable win for the home team as their late season form leading them toward a play-off berth, however if the Highlanders can keep the score close at the break, it may end up being a bit closer than expected.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Thoughts on return after an eventful hiatus
Some things ... Hello again! The good news for the 17 dedicated readers of this column is that it is back, more or less on a weekly basis, now the man who writes it is not knee-deep in Highlanders stories. (And, er, is back from a lovely Australian holiday.) The bad news is you can expect roughly 437 mentions of Liverpool being champions of England between now and February. On that note, here are 29 things that have happened, or that I have been pondering, since the column last appeared: 1. The Highlanders claimed the wooden spoon. Oof. Did not see that coming, to be honest. They played good rugby — some really good rugby — at times. Four or five of their players were consistently brilliant. But, as one noted rugby brain told me recently, they just lost too many of the small moments. Their inexperience in some positions showed, and they lacked a couple of real game leaders to take control. Last is not good, and while most supporters will move on quickly, it will not be pleasant if results do not significantly improve next season. 2. The Chiefs are the best team in Super Rugby, by miles. Hard to see them being stopped. If it has to happen, let it be the Hurricanes, not the Crusaders. 3. Super Rugby continued its year of resurgence. The rugby has been good, new stars have emerged, and there has been plenty of uncertainty. Match attendance increased 6% despite regular season games dropping from 84 to 77, and television and digital viewership went up. Significantly, it has been the second-highest scoring season — an average of 58 points per game — with a historically low average of 2.1 penalty attempts per game. Hard to complain. 4. Just 16 days until Scott Robertson names an All Blacks squad for a second season. The Highlanders will clearly have at least one new test cap (Fabian Holland). Fingers crossed for Timoci Tavatavanawai. Elsewhere, it is hard to imagine too many new faces. Chay Fihaki, perhaps. Du'Plessis Kirifi? 5. In my last column in March, I wrote the Warriors were "miles off the pace". Oops. Sorry, Wahs fans! They have rattled off a bunch of wins and sit pretty just two points off the top of the NRL table. 6. My beloved Penrith Panthers . . . well, let's just say a fifth straight premiership was always going to be unlikely. 7. The Otago Nuggets have parted company with Jose Perez — one of the weirdest, most interesting basketball players I have seen — and become rooted to the bottom of the NBL table. Both the Nuggets and their sister team, the Hoiho, still face an uncertain future as they seek new owners. 8. In the least surprising development since Jacinda Ardern's autobiography was released with 792 references to "kindness", the Indian Panthers have been booted out of the national league. This whole shambles has been one of the great stains on the history of New Zealand sport, and some people should be feeling really embarrassed. 9. No doubt you read my thoughts on the NBA finals in yesterday's paper. Should be a good series. But my Knicks are not far away. ... that have been 10. If you are only good as your last game, the Southern Steel are awful. But the 70-45 loss to the Pulse was an early outlier in a season that is already suggesting the Steel are vastly improved from recent years. 11. I will take some convincing that a two-point shot belongs in netball. 12. What is with netball and its persistence with calling players out of retirement? The Steel raised a few eyebrows when 40-year-old assistant coach Liana Leota came off the bench in the opening game. Now an Australian team has called in Silver Ferns great Casey Kopua, a staggering six years since her retirement. Are there no decent players coming through the ranks? 13. One last netball thought. The national boss might think things are going swimmingly but there has to still be a concern that the future beyond 2026 looks so uncertain thanks to the new broadcasting deal. 14. Great to hear a new $15 million roof could be coming for the Edgar Centre. It is the best asset in this city, and needs to be protected. 15. I waited this long. Did you hear Liverpool are champions of England for a 20th time? Bliss. 16. Arsenal again looked good and won nothing. Chris Wood had the greatest season by a New Zealand footballer. Spurs are "champions of Europe", ha ha. And Manchester United . . . ye gods. 17. You had to feel for Auckland FC. They were wonderful in their inaugural season, deservedly won the minor premiership, and were unlucky to fall in the playoffs. Like every normal football fan, I would rather the A-League just had a plain old league format. 18. The Phoenix appear to be in freefall. Really worrying. 19. Liam Lawson has been busy. He was demoted by Red Bull — who never really gave him a chance — and after a rugged start with Racing Bulls, he appears to be finding his feet. Hopefully he continues to progress. 20. My cousin in Canada and a work colleague are all-in on the Edmonton Oilers winning ice hockey's Stanley Cup, as am I. Lessgooo Oilers. 21. Closer to home, those were two fantastic ice hockey world tournaments held in Dunedin. This newspaper did a sterling job covering them, too. At which point I humbly highlight the sports department's contribution to the Otago Daily Times being named metro paper of the year at the Voyager Awards. We are still covering things other papers have abandoned. ... on my mind 22. And the prize for the stupidest sport-related activity goes to . . . this "run it straight" nonsense. Just shut it down, please. 23. Can we also shut down any talk of the major boys' secondary schools in Otago and Southland abandoning a really good southern schools rugby competition in favour of an over-blown South Island First XV league, designed purely and futilely to attempt to maintain an arms race with the big North Island schools. I don't like it at all. 24. The best book I have read this year has been Spearhead , the amazing story of a tank crew in World War 2. The only sports book has been Not Everything Counts But Everything Matters , the yarn with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary. Not bad. 25. Cricket remains undefeated as the sport with the coolest scorelines. In case you missed it, the Richmond Fourth XI won the toss and fielded in a Middlesex County League game last month. Not such a brilliant decision, as the North London Thirds rattled on 426 for five off just 45 overs. In reply, Richmond were all out for two. Yes, two. One run off the bat, one from a wide. Off 5.4 overs. Brilliant. 26. Rory McIlroy completed the career grand slam with a dramatic and long-awaited win at the Masters. Awesome to watch. 27. Naomi Osaka's tragic tale continued when she crashed out of the French Open, teared up, and sounded extremely down on herself. She just seems so unhappy to be playing tennis at times. 28. Miami quarterback Cam Ward was taken at No 1 in the NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. The best names in the draft included Aireontae Ersery, Omarr Norman-Lott, Princely Umanmielen, Upton Stout, Zeek Biggers, Gunnar Helm, LaJohntay Wester, Aeneas Peebles, Konata Mumpfield, Dante Trader jun and Lathan Ransom. 29. As mentioned, The Last Word is just back from a trip to Australia. A bit of Melbourne, the amazing Great Ocean Rd and Murray River, and a bit of Adelaide. Did not attend any sport but went to Les Miserables in the Rod Laver Arena, and noted the ratio of Aussie Rules coverage to all other sport in a major newspaper (six pages to two).
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Doffing his cap to history
My oldest boy wanted to please his dad when he was young and one way to his dad's heart was through rugby. My husband never enjoyed actually playing rugby, but he had a love for the game. He would get the kids up in the early hours of the morning to watch a game or go to a game at the stadium, there was regular screaming at the screen about a losing Highlanders side, poor refereeing, or legendary All Black tries. It was a culture in our house, but it was also a wider family culture too. I was raised as if rugby were a religion, watching it but being schooled on the fact that the art of rugby surged through our veins and that we have an extensive history and ownership with the game. My great uncle was a bit of a rugby legend and, in fact, we have others who come from Ōtākou, clearly we were made for the game. Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison was born in 1866 and was to become one of New Zealand's most famous rugby sons. About 1881 he was introduced to rugby football by his cousins at Ōtākou — Jack Taiaroa, who was to become a prominent member of the first New Zealand rugby team in 1884, and Riki Taiaroa, who later joined Ellison in the touring Native team of 1888-89. In 1882, Tom was sent to Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay, where he played for the senior team in 1883 and 1884. His first international honours came with the New Zealand Native Football Team, a professional side, which toured Great Britain and Australia in 1888-89. Initially a forward and later a wing, Ellison played half-back for Pōneke in 1891, and from that experience developed the wing-forward, or flanker, position to block interference with passing from the base of the scrum. The system was quickly adopted throughout New Zealand; it was superseded by the eight-man scrum in 1932. In 1893, Ellison captained the first official New Zealand team and he proposed that the uniform be a black jersey with silver fern monogram — this was similar to the old Native team uniform — and in 1901 it became the familiar All Black uniform. In 1902 he published The Art of Rugby Football , an early rugby coaching manual. Eventually, Ellison took a keen interest in Kāi Tahu land claims: he was appointed an interpreter in the Native Land Court in 1886 and stood three times for the Southern Maori seat in Parliament. From 1891 he worked as a solicitor and, from 1902, as a barrister in the Wellington law firm Brandon, Hislop and Johnston, he was admitted to the Bar, one of the first Māori to attain that distinction. He became a familiar figure commuting to work from Eastbourne in one of the first motor cars seen in Wellington. Ellison died a young man in 1904 and was buried at Ōtākou. I grew up with these legendary stories about our great rugby players and our family have produced many more talented players. It's probably a fair call to say, it's an Ellison thing — he momo. So, circling back to my son, a descendant of all that rugby whakapapa, who, like most Kiwi lads, started playing rugby when he was 5. I will confess that I was fairly unenthusiastic about the whole thing. Cold Saturdays, injuries, intense sideline parenting and the perceived culture of it all just didn't flick my switch. However, I made all efforts to support him. The thing is, my son wasn't a natural rugby player. He struggled to keep up, he wasn't overly interested in the game and, like the rest of my children, he really doesn't have that competitive killer attitude that is required on the field ... I mean, I was just happy he was getting a run. However, apart from one year that we put him into football, he played rugby, year in, year out. Ultimately, he just loved the brotherhood, the team camaraderie, the banter, the laughs and he really got a kick out of his team winning and his team-mates doing well. I think perhaps the coaches got a laugh, too, out of coaching my son, as he was pretty entertaining. He went away to his Māori boys boarding school in the North Island a few years ago now, as he is in his last year. He continued to play the game at school, and I just assumed it was expected that he did. He naturally got taller and leaned out, he trained a bit at school and kept in it. He took on basketball too and loves the game but still played rugby. He said his life would flash before him on a Saturday as massive boys with killer attitudes would come running at him. In some regards, I am glad I have never had to watch this rugby warfare with my beautiful boy in the middle of it. Through all his rugby trials and tribulations, he said the one thing he wanted was to make his dad proud and get that 1st XV cap, and he has done it. In two weeks' time he gets his wish, presented with his cap by his pōua (grandfather) at his school. So, with that, my son gets to acknowledge the journey in the game, the injuries, the wins, the losses, the growth, his brotherhood, his tūpuna, his dad and, finally, his cousin Taiaroa, also a descendant of these Ōtākou rugby legends, whose amazing rugby talent has been halted by cancer. This is my son's salute.
RNZ News
12 hours ago
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific: Moana Pasifika release 15 players from franchise
Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andy Radka/ActionPress Moana Pasifika have dropped a bombshell in the form of 15 players. The franchise announced on social media the mass release of squad members, many of whom have been with the side since its inception. Also leaving is star winger Kyren Taumoefolau, rumoured to be heading to the Chiefs and former skipper Sione Havili-Talitui. The players released include Fine and Lotu Inisi, Neria Fomai, Danny Toala, Michael Curry, Havili-Talitui, Taumoefolau, Pepesana Patafilo, Alamanda Motuga, Sama Malolo, Aisea Halo, Tomasi Maka, Connor Seve, Irie Papuni and Pone Fa'amausili. "Goodbyes are never easy, but they remind us just how meaningful the journey has been. Thank you brothers for everything," Moana posted on their social media channels. Moana enjoyed their strongest season to date in 2025, picking up wins over every Kiwi franchise except the Chiefs, and narrowly missing out on a play-off berth, finishing in seventh. However, the gloss was somewhat removed from a sparking start, conceding 149 points in their final two outings.
