Kia Ora and welcome to Wellington for a crunch New Zealand derby between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs.
The Hurricanes sit fourth overall having won their last five games on the bounce, while the Chiefs share the same record at five wins and one loss.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights, and all the action. Video will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
LIVE COMMENTARY (BE SURE TO REFRESH YOUR BROWSER)
Hurricanes 25 - Chiefs 13
MATCH WRAP: Chiefs had more ball, made less tackles and played most of the last hour inside the Hurricanes half but couldn't finish off promising attacks. Damian Mckenzie and Solomon Alaimalo had stong games for the visitors while Charlie Ngatai would be delighted he got through the full 80. Sam Cane was quite while Brodie Retallick made a ton of mistakes. For the Canes, I thought the Barrett boys were excellent as was No.8 Gareth Evans whi defended well and was great off the back if the scrum. Hurricanes go top of the full table and the NZ Conference with the win having won six games straight.
80mins: PENALTY GOAL HURRICANES - Jordie Barrett nails it from 40m as the siren goes to signal the end of the match. Hurricanes 25-13.
79mins: Another midfield penalty for the Canes.....McKenzie pinged at the ruck. Jordie will have a shot which should finish the game.
77mins: That should just about be it as Boshier is pinged for a foot on the ball at the ruck....Hurricanes clear to the Chiefs 10m line. 3 minutes to go.
75mins: Chiefs win the lineout and head off upfield....shift from Ngatai finds Alaimalo out on the right this time...he's away but great cover from Jordie...Retallick loses the ball forward on the next phase. Scrum Hurricanes on the 22. Ben Lam off the field..cramping badly.
74mins: Chiefs earn a turnover via Sam Cane and Wainui slams it upfield..kick returned by Jordie goes straight to Alaimalo....Mckenzie on the counter again almost breaks free down the left hand side but he just puts a foot in touch. Lineout halfway for the Canes.
73mins: Hurricanes have a penalty on the 22 but opt for the lineout from 5m out. Can wrap up the points here.
71mins: Play getting a bit messy. Another woeful kick from Beauden finds Alaimalo who shifts it to Mckenzie...the little fella opts to run but can't get around Laumpae who shadows him into touch. Lineout Hurricanes 30m out.
68mins: Well defended by the Hurricanes..the win a turnover but Beauden with an awful kick straight to Alaimalo...counter from the Chiefs through Mckenzie and they are away..Messam to Rettalick but he loses the ball forward on the offload attempt to Cane. Chance blown.
67mins: Chiefs have a lineout on halfway after a defensive penalty/
64mins: Chiefs with all the ball at the moment but the Canes are defending well and almost score through their pressure. Alaimalo gets smashed in a tackle on the Chiefs 10m line..ball bounces free but Matt Proctor loses the ball forward with a 20m open run to the line in front of him. Scrum Chiefs.
60mins: Oh! Chiefs go super close again. Hurricanes on attack as beauden goes for the cross kick..Snapped up by Alaimalo who breaks through the Laumpae tackle and gets a superb offload away to Ngatai who is away but Jordie makes a wonderful tackle to prevent the try. Lineout Hurricanes 10m out.
58mins: TRY CHIEFS: LACHLAN BOSHIER - Back in it the Chiefs. Great attack from the visitors...4th phase from the scrum..Mckenzie with a subtle pass finds Ngatai who heaves out to an unmarked Boshier who runs 20m untouched to score in the corner. McKenzie converts. Hurricanes 22-13.
56mins: Chiefs hot on attack here after a nice run from Alaimalo. Through 7 phases and under advantage..Great defence from the Canes as Mckenzie goes close...Chiefs get the penalty and McKenzie finds touch..5m lineout.
55mins: Defensive penalty for the Chiefs. Fatilofa pinged at ruck time. McKenzie clears to halfway.
53mins: Beauden Barrett on the counter-attack..what a great run at full flight he lights up the Chiefs..60m from the outstanding pivot..he grubbers for Lam but the ball just drifts into touch. Wow! What a player.
50mins: Scrum for the Canes. Maul in the midfield called by referee Nutbrown and that's a turnover. Scrum is just on the Hurricanes 22m line.
49mins: Chiefs with a lineout on the Hurricanes 22 after a penalty for a late hit on McKenzie.
48mins: McKenzie creates something for the Chiefs..beautiful pass to Ngatai and the fullback is away..Ngatai with the grubber ahead for Alaimalo but the ball doesn't bounce for the Chiefs winger....Hurricanes recover through Booth and earn a defensive penalty.
45mins: TRY HURRICANES: NGANI LAUMAPE - Great play from the Canes. Beauden Barrett with the loop-around play in midfield on halfway....Vince Aso is away buit great cover from Ngatai prevents a try. Next phase ball comes to Beauden again with the cross kick..Lienart-Brown reaches high but he can't gather...Laumpae picks the ball up and crashes over for the hosts. Jordie can't convert. Game has changed big time. Hurricanes 22-6.
41mins: TRY HURRICANES: BEAUDEN BARRETT - Ben Lam with another break but Ngatai brings him down and the Chiefs get the ball back just insdie their 22. Chiefs work it to halfway but it breaks down in the midfield and Beauden scoops it and is away! Toes it ahead and it's a race between Beauden and Retallick. Looks like Beaudy got it down but the TMO wants a look. Wow! It's close but the TMO goes with the on-field referee and awards the try. Hurricanes 17-6.
2nd Half: Beauden Barrett to get the game back underway.
Halftime: Good half of rugby. One of those games where both teams are creating chances but can't find that last pass. Outside of the great effort from Ben Lam, the Chiefs have had slighly the better of the action. Be back soon.
40mins: PENALTY GOAL CHIEFS - McKenzie makes no mistake this time. Hurricanes 10-6.
39mins: Chance for the Chiefs as McKenzie finds Faauli who heads off downfield..good tackle from Booth on the cover...Chiefs spread it but Jordie intercepts..hold up...offside against the Hurricanes as Barrett runs away....McKenzie will have a shot from the same spot as before.
38mins: Clearing penalty for the Hurricanes...high shot by Messam. Barrett finds touch on halfway.
36mins: Another penalty for the Chiefs....high tackle from Fifita on McKenzie...Damian kicks for touch...lineout 30m out.
34mins: Oh dear! McKenzie drags it left from just to the right of the posts.
33mins: Chiefs maul the Hurricanes at scrum time to earn a penalty. McKenzie with a gimmie three-point attempt.
32mins: Defensive scrum for the Hurricanes. Chiefs with a nice spell of possesion but Tu-inukuafe loses the ball forward on the Hurricanes 22 after 9 phases...poor.
30mins: Great work from Charlie Ngatai...he has a very educated boot..finds space in between the Hurricanes back three to find touch just inside the Cames' 22.
29mins: Hurricanes have lineout just inside their own half after earning a defensive penalty inside their own 22.
27mins: Chiefs trying to play at pace now. Beauden penalised for sealing the ball off at the breakdown....quickly taken by McKenzie and he takes off downfield..good run by the No.10...he tries to find Sean Wainui but the winger loses the ball forward. Defensive scrum Hurricanes abiut 30m out.
25mins: Great attack Hurricanes on the counter. Ben Lam smashed through weak defence, runs another 40m, he gets the ball to Booth on the run who finds Jordie..Jordie tries to gas Alamailo but can't and he loses the ball forward 20m out.
23mins: Messy attack from the Chiefs..The Hurricanes defending flat and the Chiefs can't make too much of an impression with their first spell of decent possesion. Hurricanes have a lineout on their 22.
20mins: Hurricanes have a lineout now on halfway.... Good chance to use their electric backline ... Chiefs defending well and the Canes have been forced back 15m - Beauden kicks and it's cleared into touch by Ngatai. Small net gain for the homeside.
19mins: Big chance for the Canes. Vaea Fifita bursts up the middle through a huge hole in the Chiefs defence, he runs a good 40-50m untouched, gets the ball away to Booth and his rocket pass can't find Jordie who would have had a 30m sprint to the line. Scrum Chiefs.
18mins: Play back underway ... free kick right of the bat for the Hurricanes as the Chiefs engage the scrum early. Hurricanes want another scrum just on their own 22.
17mins: Big break in the action here as Ross leaves the field.
16mins: Chiefs on attack now as a nice move sees Faauli release Alaimalo but an ankle tap from Beauden Barrett saves a seven-pointer. Knocked on next phase bu Angus Ta'avao and the Hurricanes have a defensive scrum. Chiefs prop Aiden Ross looks done for the night with a serious ankle injury. Called for the stretcher...looks very bad. Karl Tu'inukuafe on.
15mins: PENALTY GOAL HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett makes no mistake from a handy angle. Hurricanes 10-3.
14mins: Chance for the Hurricanes to get the lead back to seven. Ruck penalty against the Chiefs.
13mins: Hurricanes back on attack but Jamie Booth loses the ball forward at the ruck. Clearing scrum for the Chiefs. Caines flanker Sam Henwood won't return due to the HIA protocol. Reed Prinsep will get 75 mins tonight.
11mins: PENALTY GOAL CHIEFS: McKenzie makes no mistake and the Chiefs close the gap. Hurricanes 7-3.
10mins: Chiefs will have a chance to reply. Fatialofa not releasing the ball at the tackle. McKenzie will have a shot from 30m out, 10m in.
7mins: TRY HURRICANES: Ben Lam - Lineout comes to nothing for the Canes....Chiefs clear. Hurricanes reset, ball comes to the left from Beauden to Laumape he puts Ben Lam away ... the in-form winger bumps off four would-be defenders to score close to the posts. Jordie converts. Hurricanes 7-0.
5mins: Nathan Harris pinged for not releasing at the tackle ...Beauden kicks for touch and it's another attacking lineout for the homeside 20m out.
3mins: Attcking lineout for the Caines after a penalty on halfway. Hurricanes spread the ball and Ben Lam looks to crash over in the corner but is bundled out by three Chiefs defenders.
1min: Chiefs have early ball inside the Hurricanes half...McKenzie puts Harris away down the left-hand side but he sells a dummy with Alaimalo free outside...Not bought by Jordie and the move breaks down. Lineout for the Canes on their own 22.
Kick off: Referee Nutbrown says play and McKenzie gets the game underway.
7.32pm: Damian McKenzie has passed a late fitness test and will take his place in the starting lineup.
7.25pm: Players going through last minute warm-ups....kick off not too far away at Westpac stadium. Winner of this one will go to the top of the NZ Conference.
Teams
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements : 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Michael Fatialofa,20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen
Chiefs
1.Aidan Ross ,2. Nathan Harris ,3. Angus Ta’avao-Matau ,4. Brodie Retallick ,5. Tyler Ardron / Michael Allardice ,6. Lachlan Boshier ,7. Sam Cane (co-captain) , Taleni Seu ,9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi ,10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Solomon Alaimalo ,12. Johnny Faauli ,13. Anton Lienert-Brown ,14. Sean Wainui,15. Charlie Ngatai (co-captain)
Replacements : 16. Liam Polwart ,17. Karl Tu’inukuafe ,18. Jeff Thwaites ,19. Luke Jacobson ,20. Liam Messam ,21. Jonathan Taumateine , 22. Marty McKenzie,23. Alex Nankivell
Average score: Hurricanes 23 Chiefs 22
Last five results
Fri, 09 Jun 2017 Hurricanes v Chiefs 14-17 Wellington
Fri, 10 Mar 2017 Hurricanes v Chiefs 18-26 Waikato
Sat, 30 Jul 2016 Semi Hurricanes v Chiefs 25-9 Wellington
Sat, 23 Apr 2016 Hurricanes v Chiefs 27-28 Wellington
Sat, 13 Jun 2015 Hurricanes v Chiefs 21-13 New Plymouth
Hurricanes overall record against the Chiefs
Played 30, Wins 15, Losses 14, Draws 1
Match Officials and details
Date : Friday 13 April
Kick Off local: 19:35
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown
Assistant Ref 1:Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2:Cam Stone
TMO : Glenn Newman
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