HURRICANES 14 - 17 CHIEFS
FULLTIME: Wow what a game! The Chiefs beat the Hurricanes in Wellington. The Canes stay in second as they got a bonus point. What a match! One of the best of the year.
79mins: One minute to go.... Now the Chiefs have a penalty advantage.
78mins: Chiefs steall the ball inside the Canes 22. Willthey try deny the Hurricanes a bonus point?
78mins: Jordie Barrett lands the conversion from the sideline. We have a thrilling finish here.
77mins: TRY HURRICANES: Wes Goosen goes over in the corner. Quick ball outwide and Goosen in unmarked.
76mins: The Chiefs clear the ball and Ardie Saveea drops the ball trying to catch it, but they referee had a penalty advantage for the Canes and he brings the ball play all the way to the Chiefs 22. They have have a throw five from the line.
75mins: PENALTY GOAL CHIEFS: The Chiefs lead by 10 with five minutes to go. The Canes now need to score twice.
74mins: Chiefs win a turnover inside Hurricanes territory and they get the penalty. What a great tackle by Sam Cane to win the penalty. They will go for goal.
73mins: The Canes steal the ball but lose it on the first hit up.
72mins: The Canes go wide and Shaun Stevenson shuts down Julian Savea. They ball the bounces around the place and into touch. But it is unclear who will have the lineout.... It will be Chiefs throw in.
71mins: Hurricanes win a penalty 30 out and right in front and they will kick for touch again. Lineout five out from the line.
70mins: 10 to go in Wellington. Chiefs still lead by a converted try. They also have the ball inside their half but as I type that they run the ball into touch.
68mins: Hurricanes with the ball inside the Chiefs half but not making much ground. The Chiefs trap the Canes in the corner and the ball goes into touch.
67mins: Time is off as both sides bring on some reserve players. A few players are limping around the field too.
66mins: Great running by the Chiefs from the restart and after five phases they go inside the Hurricanes half.
65mins: McKenzie lands the conversion. It hits the post and it goes over. Chiefs lead 14-7.
64mins: TRY CHIEFS: James Lowe is over! Stevenson steps past Tj Perenara and runs inside the 22 and throws the ball wide to Lowe who goes over and they take the lead in Wellington.
63mins: Another Chiefs scrum, but now inside their own half. They get the ball out and Shaun Stevenson breaks the line.
61mins: Chiefs scrum right on halfway. They throw the ball wide to Solomon Alaimalo who is wrapped up quickly.
60mins: YELLOW CARD CHIEFS: Now the tide has turned as Michael Allardice has been binned. Stupid penalty was given away as the Chiefs looked likely to score. Game changing moment .
59mins: Hurricanes win a penalty at the breadown for danergous play at the breakdown. Stupid penalty given away by Michael Allardice.
58mins: Chiefs run it out of the 22 and Alex Nankivell puts Anton Lienert-Brown into space and all of a sudden the Chiefs are in the Hurricanes 22.
57mins: Canes win the lineout and but the drive does not go far as they Chiefs win a scrum after putting great pressure on.
56mins: The Hurricanes attack down the right win and chip the ball over the top and Damian McKenzie is forced to run into touch. Canes lineout just inside the Chiefs 22. Charlie Ngatai heads off after a outstanding display.
55mins: Incredible defence by the Chiefs. Julian Savea gets the ball on the win and powers over the Chiefs defence but he runs out of room and goes into touch.
54mins: Canes go inside the 22 again but lose the ball, but the Chiefs give up possession quicky and they home-side are back into the 22.
52mins: Ball goes into touch and now the Chiefs have a lineout which they win. They eventually clear and now the Canes go on the counter.
51mins: Great running by the Canes who are trying to flick the switch again. They have a peanlty advantage as Beauden Barrett breaks the line.
50mins: Chiefs steal the ball at the lineout and they go inside the Hurricanes half, but as penalised once they are tackled for not releasing.
49mins: A poor kick by Damian McKenzie goes well wide of the mark.
48mins: It is in range and they will go for the points on offer.
47mins: Chiefs clear the ball down to Jordie Barrett and the Chiefs are up quickly. Now the referee blows a penalty to the Chiefs for hands in the ruck.
45mins: Hurricanes get the ball out at the scrum and now they are inside the Chiefs 22, but they lose possession. Now it will be a Chiefs scrum.
44mins: The scrum goes down. We will reset.
43mins: Hurricanes back with the ball inside the Chiefs half. As they look to clear, Sam Cane puts his hand out and knocks the ball forward.
41mins: The Hurricanes go inside the Chiefs half, and nearly the Chiefs 22, but they drop the ball. Chiefs scrum.
40mins: The second half is under way in Wellington. Big blow for the Chiefs as Aaron Cruden will NOT return tonight due to a kneww injury.
HALFTIME: The Hurricanes dominated the early stages, but the rest of the way it has been fairly even. It is a tie game in Wellington 7 apiece after 40 gruelling minutes.
39mins: Another scrum reset.......
38mins: Chiefs scrum inside their 22.
37mins: The Canes go inside the Chiefs half and they attack down the middle. All of a sudden TJ Perenara makes a break through the middle of the ruck, but his offload to Chris Eves is knocked forward.
35mins: The Hurricanes survive as they drag Damian McKenzie into touch who attacks down the blindside. But there was a penalty on that play so the Canes clear the ball away.
33mins: They do put the pressure on and Tj Perenara knocks the ball on. Five-metre scrum to the Chiefs.
32mins: Hurricanes scrum five out from their own line. Chance for the Chiefs to put the Canes unders some pressure.
31mins: Time is off as Aaron Cruden is getting his knee looked at after getting whacked by Aso.... It has been strapped.
30mins: Chiefs now with the ball inside their half. They get the ball to Lowe again who kicks the ball forward and Aaron Cruden gets the ball but he is smashed by Vince Aso and the ball goes into touch.
28mins: Chiefs survive that attack as Sam Lousi drops the ball.
27mins: Hurricanes inside the Chiefs 22 and they keep spreading the ball wide.
25mins: Penalty to the Hurricanes as TBK illegally blocked Damian McKenzie who flew high to catch the ball. They kick towards touch and don't go for goal.
24mins: Tie game in Wellington as Damian McKenzie kicks the conversion.
23mins: TRY CHIEFS: Great counter by the Chiefs. Solomon Alaimalo runs the ball and throws as perfect offload to Aaron Cruden who fights off Sam Lousi and goes over. Great try by the visitors.
22mins: Chiefs attack down the wing of James Lowe, but it comes to nothing as the Hurricanes clear, but now the Chiefs counter.
21mins: Now we have a scrum to the Hurricanes inside their half. But the Chiefs outmuscle the Hurricanes and turn the ball over.
20mins: Great scrum by the Chiefs who run the first which is followed up by a kick by Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
18mins: Chiefs win a penalty for an accidental offside. Chiefs scrum 10 metres from their own goal line.
17mins: Another penalty to the Canes as Charlie Ngatai failed to roll away. THe penalty is right in front of the posts, but the home-side kick for touch.
16mins: Hurricanes win a penalty as Sam Cane is penalised for a late tackle.
15mins: Another quick throw by the Chiefs and Damian McKenzie chips the ball to the wing of Solomon Alaimalo but the ball goes into touch.
14mins: Chiefs win the scrum and spead the ball out to James Lowe who is put into a big hole. Then they make a break and Damian McKenize finds Tawera Kerr-Barlow but he runs out of room and goes into touch.
12mins: Brad Shields puts Julian Savea one v one with Aaron Cruden down the wing, but luckily for the first-five, the pass was forward. The Hurricanes looking very slick on attack in the opening stages of this New Zealand derby.
11mins: Jordie Barrett clears from the c=scrum and kicks the ball into touch, but the Chiefs take the quick throw. Next play Barrett is in the action again and steals the ball and gives to Tj Perenara who clears it downfield.
10mins: NO TRY CHIEFS: Anton Lienert-Brown loses possession of the ball inches from the line. Hurricanes scrum.
9mins: Time off in Welligton as Anton Lienert-Brown makes a break down the wing and goes over but is SMASHED!! He was over the line, so the referees are checking for a possible try. What a tackle by Perenara and Jordie Barrett.
8mins: Hurricanes steal the ball at the lineout. Beauden Barrett kicks the ball high but Solomon Alaimalo takes the catch.
7mins: First penalty tonight goes to the Chiefs for a high shot.
6mins: Jordie Barrett kicks the conversion. Canes lead 7-0
5mins: TRY HURRICANES: Vaea Fifita is over the first of the game. Callum Gibbins goes close to scoring, TJ gets to the ball quickly and throws a flat pass to Fifita who has to fall over the line to score the try.
4mins: The Hurricanes turned the ball over, overpowering the Chiefs forwards. Now they have the feed.
3mins: Hurricanes are 20 from the line, but Callum Gibbins knocks the ball on. Chiefs scrum.
2mins: The Hurricanes enter the Chiefs half for the first time of the game as they spread the ball right to left. Now they go right and Ardie Savea puts Tj Perenara into a hole and he runs into the Chiefs 22.
1mins: Hurricanes hit the ball up twice before clearing and Damian McKenzie runs the ball back. They don't have it for long as they drop the ball just inside Hurricanes territory.
KICKOFF: We are underway in Wellington! The Chiefs get the match started.
7:34 pm: The Hurricanes are out - led by Julian Savea in his 100th match.
7:33 pm: Chiefs are wearing white tonight and they are out on Westpac Stadium.
7:32 pm: This is the last Super Rugby match before the international break. The Canes are currently second in the NZ conference - 10 points behind the Crusaders while the Chiefs are third. A bonus point win will lift them past the Hurricanes.
7:30 pm: Thanks for tuning in to live updates between the Hurricanes and Crusaders. Players will need to show why they make the All Blacks squad tonight, while others will show they deserve a shot down the line.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the Hurricanes hosting the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 7:30 pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above as Tj Perenara talks about the importance of the match against the Chiefs.
Lineups
Hurricanes
1. Chris Eves, 2. Leni Apisai, 3. Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, 4. Sam Lousi, 5. Vaea Fifita, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Callum Gibbins, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara (c), 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Vince Aso, 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 15. Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16. Ricky Riccitelli, 17. Loni Uhila, 18. Mike Kainga, 19. Mark Abbott, 20. Reed Prinsep, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Matt Proctor, 23. Wes Goosen
Chiefs
1. Kane Hames, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Dominic Bird, 5. Michael Allardice, 6. Mitchell Brown, 7. Sam Cane (cc), 8. Liam Messam, 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Aaron Cruden (cc), 11. James Lowe, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Solomon Alaimalo, 15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16. Liam Polwart, 17. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 18. Atu Moli, 19. Tom Sanders, 20. Lachlan Boshier, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Alex Nankivell, 23. Shaun Stevenson
Match facts and stats
Referee: Nick Briant
Assistants: Richard Kelly and Cam Stone
TMO: Shane McDermott
The Chiefs have won five of their last eight regular season games against the Hurricanes, including each of the last two; never before in Super Rugby history have they beaten the Wellington side more than twice on the bounce.
Nine of the last 11 New Zealand derbies played on a Friday night have been decided by a margin of nine points or fewer, while the Chiefs have lost just one of their last eight such fixtures (W6, D1).
The Hurricanes have won 25 of their last 29 Super Rugby fixtures, including each of their last three, though two of their four losses in that span have come against the Chiefs (one each vs. Crusaders, Sharks).
The Hurricanes have scored 83 tries so far this season, surpassing the previous competition record of 81 tries scored by the Lions in 2016. Their 26 tries conceded are also the second fewest of any team in the competition this season behind the Lions (25).
The Wellington side have scored 64 tries on or before the third phase of possession this season, 17 more than any other team in the competition.
The Hurricanes have scored 20 tries after forcing a turnover this campaign, the most of any team in the competition and 16 more than the Chiefs via the same method.
The Chiefs have conceded only 11 first-half tries so far this season, fewer than any other team in the competition.
Damian McKenzie (1,260) and James Lowe (1,001) are two of just threeplayers (David Havili; 1,111) to have gained more than 1,000m so far thisseason.
Past meetings
Head to head: Played 29, Hurricanes 15, Chiefs 13, draws 1
In Wellington: Played 15, Hurricanes 10, Chiefs 5, drawn 0
Last time played: Chiefs 26 def Hurricanes 18, March 10, 2017
Last time in Wellington: Hurricanes 25 def Chiefs 9, July 30, 2016
Head-to-head: Hurricanes - $1.32 Chiefs - $3.35
Pre-match banter: All Black selection a dream come true for new cap Ngani Laumape
Ngani Laumape only had one dream when he started his professional sporting career - to play for the All Blacks.
The 24-year-old was selected in Steve Hansen's All Black squad to take on the Lions beginning June 24 in Auckland.
The former New Zealand Warriors centre admitting that even during his three-year stint with the NRL club, his heart lay with the 15-man code.
"Growing up in New Zealand everyone wants to be an All Black," said Laumape.
"When I was playing for the Warriors that was always in the back of my head and I also always wanted to be play for the Hurricanes. That was the drive that led me back to rugby.
"I haven't looked back since."
The Hurricanes midfielder said he has always believed that things happen for a reason, and when two All Black greats signalled their intentions to move overseas at the end of 2015, Laumape saw an opportunity to change career paths.
"I was always going to come back no matter what. Ma'a [Nonu] was leaving and so was Conrad [Smith] and I truly believed it was time."
After a stuttering season in 2016, Laumape has been a revelation for the Hurricanes in the defence of their Super Rugby crown, leading the try-scoring ranks alongside teammate Vince Aso.
Laumape said this season has been all about getting better week-by-week, but he is still in disbelief that he has made the national side.
"For me it was just getting to know the game a bit better, getting myself into situations where I know what to do. The [Hurricanes] coaching staff have been amazing, I always make sure I go and see them and talk about how to get better every week.
"All Blacks was always the number one goal. I knew I had processes to get there and for me it was all about performing well for the Hurricanes. I'm overwhelmed."
Laumape has one more game for the Hurricanes, against the Chiefs on Friday before heading into camp with the All Blacks next week.
