Hurricanes

Four-try haul for Laumape in Hurricanes win

Powerhouse inside centre Laumape proved too hot to handle in a 42-24 win in Wellington on Saturday which leaves his team close to clinching a home quarter-final berth in the play-offs.

The result ends a three-match losing streak for the Hurricanes, who scored six tries to three, all converted by fullback Jordie Barrett.

Laumape became the seventh player in the competition's history to bag four tries in a match, using his trademark straight running close to the line to simply bowl defenders out of the way.

Hurricanes coach slams loss to Brumbies

The early frontrunners for the title have lost three games in a row in a concerning form slump just two games away from the finals.

The Brumbies' Super Rugby finals hopes remain alive after an upset 24-12 victory over the Hurricanes - their first win against a New Zealand team since 2016.

They still need to win their last two matches and rely on other results to avoid missing the post-season for the first time in six years, but their triumph over the second-placed Wellington side on Saturday night gives them hope.

Savea and Evans escape punishment

Evans was issued a warning for gripping a player around the head and neck while Savea was warned for lifting a player beyond the horizontal line while cleaning out a ruck.

Evans was deemed to have contravened law 9.20, which states a player must not make contact above the line of the shoulders, when allegedly gripping around the head/neck region of his opposite number in the 62nd minute.

Savea was deemed to have contravened law 9.11, which states a player must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.

Naholo try caps off decisive Highlanders win

The Highlanders leapfrogged the Chiefs into third in the New Zealand conference and up to 40 points on the table, five behind the second-placed Hurricanes and 10 adrift of the competition-leading Crusaders.

It was the second successive loss for the Hurricanes, who were humiliated by the Crusaders in atrocious conditions last week in Christchurch, after they had won their previous 10 games.

Depleted Crusaders too good for Hurricanes

The Crusaders, without at least seven front-line players through injury or suspension, controlled the ball through their forwards, punished their opponent's poor discipline and produced a bruising defence to drive them back behind the advantage line.

Lock Scott Barrett, prop Michael Alaalatoa and loose forward Heiden Bedwell-Curtis crossed for the home side, while Reed Prinsep scored a late consolation try for the visitors.

The Crusaders held a narrow 7-6 lead at halftime, but dominated the second spell to set up their ninth successive win of the season.

Ben Lam bags hat-trick in Hurricanes' scrappy win over Lions

The 26-year-old winger brought his season's tally to 12, adding two second-half tries to his seventh-minute opener.

Lam's first try gave the Hurricanes an up-tempo start to the game in blustery, swirling conditions at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Both teams were guilty of coughing up possession too easily, but it was the Hurricanes who made the most of their chances.

The late loss of Jordie Barrett to an ankle injury didn't affect their running game, with Nehe Milner-Skudder slotting in at fullback in his second game after returning from shoulder surgery.

Milner-Skudder named in squad to face Sunwolves

The All Blacks wing has been sidelined since injuring his shoulder in October and is part of a strong Hurricanes line-up selected by head coach Chris Boyd for the Super Rugby match.

Halfback Finlay Christie will make his debut for the Hurricanes and will have plenty of experience outside him with Beauden Barrett starting inside an exciting midfield pairing of Vince Aso and Matt Proctor.

Hurricanes Super Rugby leaders after win

A table-topping Kiwi derby featured no shortage of highlights as the hosts ran out three tries-to-one winners tonight in Wellington, led by more scintillating attack from Ben Lam, Ngani Laumape and Beauden Barrett.

The trio shared the tries, although Chiefs five-eighth Damian McKenzie and winger Solomon Alaimalo also continued their brilliant campaigns.

Both teams were out to add to five-match winning streaks after losing their respective opening matches.

Hurricanes romp past Rebels in Melbourne

First-five Beauden Barrett, number eight Gareth Evans and inside centre Ngani Laumape also crossed for the Hurricanes, who trailed 19-8 after 30 minutes before running over the top of the tiring home side.

The result takes the Hurricanes to the top of the New Zealand Conference.

The Rebels' only try was scored by lock Matt Philip and flyhalf Jack Debreczeni added four penalties.

Perenara celebrates 100th with a derby win

Winger Ben Lam scored two of the Hurricanes' four tries on Saturday as they notched a third-straight win and handed the Highlanders their first defeat of the season.

The scores were locked 12-12 entering a final half-hour which the hosts dominated, scoring through a long-range penalty to Jordie Barrett and tries to reserve winger Vince Aso and Lam.

Both tries required expert, diving finishes in the corner from the wide men when tackled by the cover defence, as did Lam's first-half try.