Click here for match report
Chiefs 23 Hurricanes 12
Chiefs - Taukei'aho & Vaa'i 2 tries; McKenzie conversion & 2 penalties
Hurricanes - Moorby & Iose tries; Morgan conversion
Fulltime
40th minute - Hurricanes win a defensive scrum near their line, but Savea's hands let him down again under the posts. Chiefs will have a scrum after the siren...
From the scrum, Ratima finds Ioane, who kicks to touch to end the contest.
38th minute - From the scrum, Chiefs look left, where Nankivell makes ground. Poihipi enters the 22, but Sowakula loses the ball.
37th minute - Hurricanes win the lineout on halfway, but Savea drops the ball cold.
36th minute - Hurricanes win the lineout and Morgan clears downfield. Hurricanes win a clearing penalty at the breakdown
35th minute - Morgan drops out from his goal-line, but the Chiefs bring it back through Narawa down the right touchline. Proctor makes the tackle, despite an obvious shoulder injury, with no reserves left on the bench.
34th minute - From the scrum, Jacobson feeds Ratima, who enters the 22. Ioane kicks to the goal-line, but Savea slides to cover the threat.
32nd minute - From the kickoff, McKenzie kicks deep and Morgan scrambles to clear. Nanai-Seturo breaks back into Hurricanes half and kicks ahead, but Moorby fumbles it into touch.
Doleman rules a knockon.
31st minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
Chief stretch their advantage back to double figures, CHI 23-12
30th minute - Chiefs have the ball just outside the 22 and have a penalty at the ruck.
29th minute - From the kickoff, Rayasi tries to clear, but his kick slides off his boot. Chiefs have a lineout just outside the Hurricanes 22.
28th minute - TRY to Iose
Chiefs have the ball in hand, but McKenzie losses it in midfield, straight into Iose's hands, for the No.8 to gallop 50 metres and score. Morgan converts, CHI 20-12
27th minute - From the kickoff, both teams exchange tactical kicks, before Stevenson glides over halfway.
26th minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
Chiefs stretch their lead to quell the Hurricanes rally, CHI 20-5
25th minute - Chiefs lay seige on the tryline and have a penalty.
24th minute - Chiefs win the lineout on the 22 and rumble towards the tryline. Norris drives towards the posts, Sowakula goes close and Vaa'i almost has three.
23rd minute - Chiefs counter-ruck and Ratima kicks a 50-22 to give them an attacking lineout.
22nd minute - Hurricanes keep the ball in hand, but Morgan kicks for his wing and overcooks it into touch.
Retallick wins the Chiefs lineout and McKenzie kicks deep to Moorby, who races back over halfway.
21st minute - From the scrum, Proctor makes metres to the 22, where Rayasi finds space on the left sideline.
20th minute - McKenzie's kickoff doesn't carry 10 metres, so the Hurricanes get a scrum on halfway.
18th minute - TRY to Moorby
Iose charges off the back of a scrum and the Hurricanes shift right, where Proctor floats a pass to Moorby, who kicks ahead and wins the race for the try.
Replays suggest he may not have grounded safely, but it's allowed. Morgan can't convert, CHI 17-5
17th minute - Ratima replaces Weber, who leaves with a bloody nose.
16th minute - Chiefs with the ball in Hurricanes half. Narawa is almost through, but the ball is dislodged, as he pierces the gap.
15th minute - Hurricanes win a lineout in Chiefs territtory, but a kicking duel ensues. Rayasi barely cuts off a 50-22 and his clearance is taken forward by Sowakula.
14th minute - Hurricanes have penalty advantage, but Delany loses the ball on halfway.
13th minute - From the scrum, Hurricanes shift left and Moorby crosses halfway.
12th minute - Chiefs have a scrum feed in midfield and Weber breaks left. Kirifi holds the ball up in a maul and wins the turnover.
11th minute - After 13 phases, Walker-Leawere steals the ball at the ruck, but Tosi spills it near halfway.
10th minute - Chiefs have the ball in Hurricanes territory and building phases. Retallick carries three times, Dyer spills backwards...
Ninth minute - From the kickoff, McKenzie hoofs the ball downfield and Morgan's return finds touch on the full. Retallick wins a lineout on the Hurricanes 10.
Seventh minute - TRY to Vaa'i
Hurricanes can't secure the slippery ball at the lineout and the Chiefs pour into the 22.
Narawa tries to slice through midfield, Retallick tries to slither over and Vaa'i claims the try. Reviews show he retained the ball in the wet conditions.
McKenzie converts, CHI 17-0
Fifth minute - Cane carries twice in quick succession, Stevenson kicks ahead and Morgan's clearance barely clears the 22.
Jacobson can't secure the lineout throw and Morgan kicks deep again. Stevenson's return kick finds touch towards the Hurricanes 22.
Fourth minute - Morgan kicks down the middle of the park and McKenzie brings it back across halfway.
Third minute - Blackwell wins a lineout near the Hurricanes 10 and Morgan kicks high. Weber spills the ball backwards, but gets it to McKenzie, as the Chiefs cross halfway.
Second minute - Flanders is down, after a tackle on Sowakula, and he's leaving the field for an HIA. Hurricanes have a feed to a defensive scrum inside their 22 and they win a penalty, when the front row collapses.
First minute - McKenzie kicks off for the second half and Hurricanes clear outside their 22.
Chiefs win the lineout and advance to the 22.
Halftime
40th minute - Roigard kicks high and McKenzie spills the bounce for a scrum in midfield.
Weber clears the scrum and ALB kicks to touch, thinking it's halftime - but it's not. Faiva throws to the lineout, as the siren does sound, and the Hurricanes try to mount something.
Iose beats a couple of tacklers, but the ball goes loose to end the half.
39th minute - Morgan chips ahead, but McKenzie gathers it and the Chiefs are back inside Hurricanes half. Weber kicks high, Moorby climbs high to catch.
38th minute - Chiefs have the ball in hand on halfway and Weber puts up a high kick. ALB knocks it back for the Chiefs.
37th minute - Hurricanes steal a long throw from Taukei'aho to the lineout, but Blackwell loses the ball in a tackle. The ball is hacked downfield, but Hurricanes have it covered.
36th minute - Stevenson fields a kick inside his 22 and reaches halfway, before he's tackled by Proctor.
McKenzie kicks into the 22, where Morgan drops the ball behind him, then clears into the Chiefs half.
35th minute - Blackwell wins a lineout and Morgan kicks deep to Stevenson. Nanai-Seturo breaks over halfway, but Flanders steals the ball at the breakdown.
34th minute - Chiefs keep the ball in hand, but Taukei'aho is penalised for not releasing the ball in a tackle and Hurricanes clear.
33rd minute - From a midfield scrum, Weber finds Nankivell and the Chiefs enter the 22.
31st minute - Iose leaves the field with an eye injury. Faiva's throw to the lineout is stolen by the Chiefs, who break upfield towards halfway.
McKenzie kicks high to the Hurricanes 22, where Morgan and Moorby again miscommunicate, with Morgan spilling the catch.
30th minute - Naholo fends off a tackler near halfway and rumbles into the 22, before he tackled into touch. Retallick wins the defensive lineout and Weber clears to the 22.
29th minute - McKenzie finds touch near the Hurricanes 10. Taukei'aho's throw is also crooked, but the Hurricanes have stolen it.
28th minute - Faiva's throw to the lineout is not straight. From the midfield scrum, the Chiefs win a penalty.
27th minute - Hurricanes still have the ball, but Franks spills it backwards. Eventually, the Chiefs scramble a clearance towards halfway.
26th minute - From the scrum, Hurricanes shift right, where Nanai-Seturo tackles Moorby.
25th minute - Faiva's throw is wayward, the Chiefs steal the ball, but it slips out of McKenzie's hands, so Hurricanes have a scrum in front of the posts.
24th minute - Sowakula secures the kickoff and the Chiefs kick back upfield. Moorby kicks long and Nanai-Seturo has the ball slip through his hands into touch.
21st minute - TRY to Vaa'i
Chiefs disrupt the throw, but Faiva has another shot and his throw is too long. Chiefs snap up the loose ball and win a penalty advantage, but Weber finds the giant lock, who stretches out to score.
In torrential rain, McKenzie grazes the left upright with his conversion attempt, CHI 10-0
20th minute - Hurricanes win a defensive lineout on their line and Roigard's kick is partially charged down by Retallick. Faiva will throw to a lineout on the 22.
19th minute - McKenzie finds touch near the corner, Jacobson wins the lineout at the front and the maul edges towards the tryline, but the Hurricanes push it into touch.
18th minute - Retallick wins the lineout and Doleman has the Hurricanes for jumping across. Chiefs shift left, but Savea ends the move with a tackle on Narawa.
17th minute - Walker-Leawere loses the ball and Stevenson kicks inside the 22. Devery has been struggling with shoulder discomfort and Faiva replaces him.
16th minute - Flanders wins the lineout and Roigard kicks high. Hurricanes knock the ball back and they try to rumble up centrefield.
15th minute - Scrum goes down, but McKenzie kicks behind the Hurricanes. Savea spraks a counterattack towards halfway, before Morgan kicks long.
Stevenson returns with interest, finding touch near the Hurricanes 22.
14th minute - Front rows pop up at the scrum.
13th minute - Hurricanes keep the ball in hand and enter the 22, but the defence is good. After 16 phases, Iose spills a pass behind him, but Doleman rules a rugby league-style knockon.
12th minute - Hurricanes have the ball back and enter Chiefs territory. Morgan breaks some tackles in midfield and they shift right.
11th minute - Hurricanes win their scrum and Morgan kicks downfield.
10th minute - Chiefs build pressure, but after 11 phases, Taukei'aho spills a pass.
Ninth minute - Chiefs enter the 22 and shift right, where Narawa threatens.
Eighth minute - Morgan and Moorby make a hash of a kick catch, and Chiefs have a scrum in midfield, Hurricanes half.
Sixth minute - TRY to Taukei'aho
Chiefs win the lineout and maul to the tryline. Backs join in the push and the hooker is there to score.
McKenzie hooks his conversion left, CHI 5-0
Fifth minute - From the scrum, the Chiefs break over halfway and McKenzie kicks ahead for Nanai-Seturo. Nankivell enters the 22 and Naholo is penalised at the ruck.
McKenzie kicks to the corner...
Fourth minute - Scrums could also be an issue, as the first of the night collapses.
Third minute - Hurricanes have the ball in hand, but Iose spills it in a tackle, so it's slippery out there, folks.
Second minute - Weather conditions in Hamilton are wet and windy, and Stevenson drops the opening kickoff to show what may lie ahead tonight.
First minute - James Doleman is the referee and Aidan Morgan kicks off for the Hurricanes.
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Chiefs and Hurricanes at Hamilton's FMG Stadium.
With their season-opening winning streak finally ended, the home side must pick themselves up for a competitive local derby against rivals still battling for home advantage in the playoffs.
The Chiefs welcome back All Blacks Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick, Brad Weber and Samisoni Taukei'aho from their mandated rest, but Hurricanes coach Jason Holland has sprung a surprise, sitting captain Ardie Savea, midfielder Jordie Barrett and prop Tyrel Lomax.
The Hamiltonians are still four points clear of their pursuers on the competition table, but another defeat would leave them vulnerable to third-placed ACT Brumbies later today.
The Blues have moved past the Hurricanes into fourth and maybe Holland is keeping his powder dry for the clash between those two teams at Eden Park next week.
Join us at 7pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Chiefs $1.20, Hurricanes $4.40, Draw $21
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Pita Gus Sowakula, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Simon Parker, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Jacob Devery, 3-Owen Franks, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-Cam Roigard, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Hame Faiva, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Pailio Tosi, 19-Justin Sangster, 20-Caleb Delany, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Riley Hohepa, 23-Salesi Rayasi
All Blacks, Chiefs halfback Weber confirms departure for Europe next year
All Blacks and Chiefs halfback Brad Weber has become the latest high-profile player to announce his departure after this year's Rugby World Cup.
On Friday, the 18-test international confirmed he'd head to Europe at the end of 2023.
Newshub understands he's signed a multi-year deal with Top 14 side Stade Francais.
"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm that this season will be my last at the Chiefs, a team that has meant so much to me and my family over the past 10 years," Weber said.
"I would have loved to see out my career at the Chiefs, but I am also very excited to try something different, taking on a new challenge in Europe, playing and living abroad.
"I'd like to thank everyone involved at the Chiefs during my time here and all the Chiefs fans who have supported me over the last decade. I've genuinely loved every moment.
"I'm not done here just yet, though. The goal is to win a championship this season, so I look forward to going out with a bang."
The Hawke's Bay Magpie veteran has been a fixture for the Chiefs, playing 118 matches for the Hamilton-based franchise, since his 2014 debut.
After a decade with the Chiefs, Weber, 32, says the "timing was right" to explore a new challenge and open the door for the next generation of halfbacks to take the reins and flourish.
"It was very tough, but once the deal came across my desk, the chance to play in Europe in a top competition and do something different really started to appeal to me," he said. "Cortez [Ratima] and Xavier [Roe] are here - it's probably time for them to take over next year.
"I don't' want to stunt their development and if I stuck around, maybe that happens, maybe we lose one of them and I didn't want that to happen."
"I feel like we're pretty blessed in the halfback stocks here, so I know I'm leaving them in a pretty good spot."
In 2021, he was named co-captain, alongside flanker Sam Cane, by coach Clayton McMillan, who describes Weber as an "integral player and leader".
"It's never ideal when you lose players of his calibre, but it's much easier to accept when they have given everything to the jersey, which Brad has done in spades," McMillan said.
"I can't speak highly enough of him as a bloke. It's a fantastic opportunity and he will go at the end of the season with our full backing."
Weber made his test debut in 2015 and was recalled four years later for the World Cup in Japan, but has since remained on the fringe of test selection.
He was overlooked for the July series against Ireland and the Rugby Championship last year, joining the All Blacks XV on their whistlestop tour to England and Ireland, before linking up with the All Blacks for their annual European tour.
His form for the Super Rugby Pacific frontrunners this season should have him firmly in the frame for coach Ian Foster's All Blacks World Cup squad, where he'll face stiff competition from the likes of Finlay Christie and Folau Fakatava for the right to back up incumbent No.9 Aaron Smith.
Weber confirms he still has his sights on securing a seat on the plane to France later this year.
"Of course I do," he said. "I'm still signed until the end of the year, so the World Cup still very much in play.
"That's the goal."
Smith will also head offshore after the World Cup, joining Japan's Toyota Verblitz, where he'll join All Blacks teammate Beauden Barrett.
Weber will join Chiefs teammates Pita Gus Sowakula (Clermont), Alex Nankivell (Munster) and Brodie Retallick (Kobe), who will all make their way overseas after their 2023 campaigns.
On Saturday, Weber will co-captain the Chiefs - who are five points clear atop the ladder - for their clash against the Hurricanes at Wellington's FMG Stadium.
