Hurricanes

It's been a tough week for the franchise, with Hurricanes Poua also forced to withdraw from their inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki match also because of Covid-19.

"We obviously wanted to play, and I really feel for the staff and players," Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said.

"We are also disappointed for Moana Pasifika who have already had to deal with this situation twice this season."

The three tries to two win was a gutsy effort from the home side, but the visiting Highlanders now sit winless after three games.

The Hurricanes were strong on defence in Wellington and their bench players made an impact when they came on the field.

Both teams made plenty of errors, but the Hurricanes endured for their second straight win, after last week beating the Blues in a stunning finish.

Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea said Covid-19 was going through the team.

"With omicron, there were some late changes," Savea said.

Savea, who was presented with the prestigious Kel Tremain Trophy at the 2021 NZ Rugby annual awards as recognition for his outstanding form throughout the season, said he was "honoured'' to lead the Hurricanes during the Super Rugby Pacific season.

When Savea plays the Crusaders in the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific in Dunedin on Saturday night, it will mark his 109th cap for the franchise since his debut in 2013.

"Obviously, we are starting the new season in our team bubbles down here in Queenstown, but we're looking forward to the challenge,'' Savea said.

The Blues announced the relocation from Auckland to Wellington late on Wednesday, saying the move occurred to minimise risk.

The Hurricanes confirmed the fixture will be hosted behind closed doors at Rugby League Park on Sunday, with a 1pm kick-off. The game is not being broadcast.

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said discussions about relocating the pre-season game started earlier in the week.

The 23-year-old is a new face at Super Rugby level, having made 14 appearances for the side since his debut against the Stormers in Cape Town, South Africa in February 2020.

Rakete-Stones says he is thrilled to have his contract extended with the Hurricanes.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have another season with the Hurricanes. Growing up in Hawke’s Bay this was the Super Rugby team to play for.”

The team defeated Hurricanes 20-18 in the final at the Apia Park Stadium, last Friday to win the championship.

The tough match saw Hurricanes dominating the opening minutes but failing to convert for the extra points.

The War-Kings took advantage in these areas after they scored six points - three from a dropkick and three from the penalty conversion by Apisaloma Aso. 

The winners began dominating the match right before halftime after locking the points at 10-6.

The news comes after Blues CEO Andrew Hore had earlier revealed his franchise wasn’t intent on chasing Barrett to join older brother and fellow All Black Beauden in 2022, which all but confirmed Jordie would remain with the Super Rugby franchise he joined in 2017.

While Jordie Barrett, 24, is contracted to NZ Rugby until next year, his previous deal with the Hurricanes expired at the end of the trans-Tasman competition.

Laumape, who made his debut for the Hurricanes in 2016 and featured eleven times in that title-winning season, will start at 12 in the Hurricanes’ final Super Rugby Trans-Tasman round robin match against the Australian champions.

The All Blacks midfielder will cap off six successful years in Wellington with the Canes, a period in which he made 83 appearance for the club (including three Super Rugby semi-final starts) and scored an impressive 47 tries, fifteen of which came in his outrageous top scoring season in 2017.

The Hurricanes needed to score a bonus point win in Canberra on Saturday night to remain on track for the tournament final, but the Brumbies clinched their first 2021 series victory over a Kiwi team with a 12-10 win.

Squandered opportunities – including two late Jordie Barrett penalty attempts – left the stunned Hurricanes to contemplate a tough final round return to Wellington to meet the Reds.

Holland said the tournament format rewarded consistency, and the Hurricanes had come up short.

Rayasi's fellow winger Wes Goosen, flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi, hooker Asafo Aumua, centre Ngani Laumape and fullback Jordie Barrett also nabbed tries as the home side ran out convincing bonus-point winners at Maclean Park.

The Perth-based Force raced out to a 6-0 lead on the back of two Domingo Miotti penalties but were outmuscled in the tackle area and made mistakes at crucial moments.