Latest news with #DuPlessisKirifi
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hurricanes hoodoo bites Reds in costly Super loss
The Queensland Reds have coughed up fourth spot to the Hurricanes, who extended their winning streak to 10 games and 12 years in a 31-27 Super Rugby Pacific battle in Brisbane. Hurricanes backrower Du'Plessis Kirifi was immovable at the breakdown, helping the Reds slide to a 2-4 record from their past six games after leading the competition less than two months ago. It was the Hurricanes' 10th consecutive win against the Reds since 2013. Victory jumped them from fifth, shunting Les Kiss's side out of the top four by one point ahead of the new six-team finals format. Fourth place is significant, given the highest-placed loser after week one of the finals will still go through to the semi-final. The Reds at least collected a bonus point in the loss, but will need to beat Fijian Drua in Brisbane next week and have other results go their way to regain a top-four berth. Hurricanes No.10 Ruben Love scored in the first minute when a deflected grubber fell into his path, only for the Reds to reply through Tate McDermott two minutes later. Proctor 🤝 FineanganofoTextbook try from the @hurricanes #SuperRugbyPacific #REDvHUR — Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 23, 2025 A pair of successful Tom Lynagh penalty kicks - incredibly the first attempted by the Reds all season - looked to have steadied the hosts. But three tries in 10 minutes gave the Hurricanes an 11-point buffer at the break, including halfback Cam Roigard chipping and regathering for a brilliant solo effort. The Reds came out of the gates well, with Jock Campbell busting through to set up McDermott's second try and make it a six-point game. Queensland then went ahead by one after going 20 phases off their own try-line for a brilliant try, finished when Joe Brial carried three men over the line. But knock-ons from Harry Wilson and Hunter Paisami, the latter with two men free on his outside shoulder, proved costly. Fehi Fineanganofo planted his second try of the game as the visitors reclaimed a four-point lead with 15 minutes to play. Kirifi came to the fore, disrupting another surging Reds charge when he won a penalty at the breakdown to kill of Queensland's last-gasp effort.
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Hurricanes storm into top four with win over Reds
Ruben Love scores a try during the Reds v Hurricanes, Super Rugby Pacific match, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Photo: Patrick Hoelscher/ActionPress The Hurricanes have hung on in a pulsating 31-27 win over the Reds in Brisbane, moving them into the top four of a now very congested Super Rugby Pacific table. Wing Fine Fineanganofo's two tries were the difference between the two sides, with his winner in the 66th minute coming off a flowing move and finished with an acrobatic dive in the corner. That set up a tense last 15 minutes, with the Hurricanes unable to secure a valuable bonus point despite ending the game hot on attack. Aside from the win, All Black hopefuls Billy Proctor and Du'Plessis Kirifi again had very strong games. A now trademark Kirifi turnover snuffed out the Reds' last chance to attack, capping off a fine game on defence, while Proctor was involved in everything the Hurricanes constructed on attack. It only took two minutes for Ruben Love to open the scoring, picking up a kind bounce from a Callum Harkin kick. Tate McDermott answered back almost immediately for the Reds, darting over from a ruck. After Tom Lynagh kicked the Reds' first penalty of the season, after an astounding 15 rounds, the Hurricanes went on a three try run starting with Fineanganofo's first. Cam Roigard collected his own kick to dive over shortly after, before Proctor was well rewarded with a try just before halftime. McDermott got his second straight after the break, before big blindside flanker Joe Brial busted through some poor Hurricanes defence to hand the lead back to the Reds. The game felt like the scoring would continue right up until the final whistle, but after Fineanganofo's second, defence set in as the Hurricanes did a very clinical job of hanging onto the ball. The result swaps the teams around on the table, which will be a hard circumstance for a Reds side that would have been eyeing up a top of the table finish not that long ago. They now host the Drua next weekend and will hope the Hurricanes slip up against Moana Pasifika in Wellington. Read how the game unfolded:
Associated Press
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
After blowing hot and cold, the Hurricanes find form in Super Rugby
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hurricanes have been late to the party in Super Rugby this season. While other teams shone in the first weeks of a tight competition, the Wellington-based Hurricanes lacked their usual luster. But with a 57-12 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Round 7, the Hurricanes catapulted themselves into playoffs contention, finally grabbing a place in the spotlight. The Hurricanes had a 1-3 record through their first four games, which contained only flashes of their usually inspired attacking play. While their set piece generally has been reliable, ball security and control of possession has not. While the Hurricanes have been able to create opportunities, they haven't always been able to finish. In a season in which all advantages appear to be with the team in possession, the Hurricanes have been too careless of possession. Their defense has been solid but they have been imprecise and impatient on attack. On Friday everything clicked. The Waratahs scored first before the Hurricanes seized control and ran in nine tries. The effort started at the back with strong defense and the outstanding ability of Hurricanes captain and open side flanker DuPlessis Kirifi to win breakdown turnovers. Kirifi is pressing a strong case for All Blacks selection this year. Lock Isaia Walker Leawere was a standout performer and winger Kini Naholo produced the finishing touch with three tries. The Hurricanes got back their confidence and with it their creativity in attack which was seen at its best in the reverse pass from fullback Ruben Love which created a 57th minute try for winger Ngane Punivai. The first green shoots of the Hurricanes' revival were seen in their 20-18 win over the Highlanders in Round 5 and two rounds later it has come into full bloom. 'It was nice rugby wasn't it?' coach Clark Laidlaw said. 'If you watched that Highlanders game, we had to work hard for everything we got, so it's always pleasing when you get a half chance and you take it. 'If you back it up with another one quickly then you can get a bit of daylight (on the opposition).' The Waratahs lost Max Jorgenson to injury then Joey Walton to a yellow card which also cost a penalty try. That helped the Hurricanes to take control of the match, especially when they scored twice close to halftime. 'The game is won and lost around the physical collision and the Hurricanes dominated that area,' Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said. 'We turned the ball over too much, both at the breakdown and at the set piece and they got on a roll. 'They've got some talent in that group and they showed that tonight, so some harsh lessons for us.' Magnificent Moana On the subject of revivals, Moana Pasifika's magnificent 45-29 over the much higher-ranked Crusaders was another example of a team which had hinted at better form than it had produced. Again, confidence played a key role. The Moana Pasifika players felt that they were on the verge of a complete performance and produced that on Saturday, going out with the intention of starting well, then keeping up the tempo and pressure when the Crusaders tried to rally. Moana Pasifika's kicking game was outstanding, implemented by flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini. Sydney-born and of Tongan heritage, Pelligrini played for Coventry in England's RFU Championship and for Tonga at the 2023 World Cup. All Blacks backrower Ardie Savea, who moved from the Hurricanes to Moana Pasifika between seasons, has played a major role in the team's improvement. Savea scored two tries and Pellegrini touched down once in Saturday's victory. As with the Hurricanes, a strong performance in their last match — a narrow loss to the Chiefs, who led the competition after Round 6 — laid the foundation for a win in this weekend. 'We talked about moments and winning each moment,' Savea said. 'I felt like the boys stacked a lot of those moments together tonight. 'We knew no one was expecting us to win so the message was for the boys just to jam and play with nothing to lose.'
