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Pre-season victories for Hurricanes, Chiefs

Updated: 3 days ago

Cam Roigard Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific
All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard featured in the Hurricanes' dominant pre-season win over the Blues. PHOTO: HURRICANES

The Hurricanes and Chiefs have completed the Super Rugby Pacific pre-season with wins over New Zealand rivals.


The Hurricanes were dominant in dispatching the defending champion Blues 31-19 at Wainuiomata's Williams Jones Park on Friday, while the Chiefs over-ran Moana Pasifika 31-19 at Pukekohe's Navigation Homes Stadium on Saturday.


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The dangerous Hurricanes backline displayed what they could achieve this season, with four of their five tries.


After Blues No 9 Taufa Funaki put the Blues up early, the Hurricanes responded, following a yellow card to Blues wing Caleb Clarke, through Kini Naholo and All Blacks centre Billy Proctor for a 12-7 halftime lead.


Blues fullback Zarn Sullivan also spent 10 minutes on the sideline early in the second half but the Canes could not capitalise on the man-advantage.



A 10-minute spell - resulting in tries to wing Kade Banks, former NZ Sevens player Fehi Fineanganofo and flanker Peter Lakai, and 19 unanswered points - secured the Hurricanes the win at 31-7.


Late tries from Cameron Suafoa and Patrick Tuipulotu earned the Blues some respectability on the scoreboard.


The Hurricanes face the Crusaders in the 2025 season opener in Christchurch on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm), while the Blues host the Chiefs at Eden Park in a repeat of the 2024 final on Saturday (kick-off 7.05pm).



It was a similar story for the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika, with the Chiefs dominating and well in control of the match before two late scores.


Fullback Oscar Koller and halfback Xavier Roe scored in the first half as the Chiefs led 14-0 at the break, before replacment hooker Taine Kolose made it 21 straight points early in the second.


Wing Tuna Tuitama got one back for Moana Pasifika but Chiefs wing Emoni Narawa and forward Samipeni Finau slammed the door shut on a comeback with five-pointers within four minutes of each other.


Moana Pasifika head to Perth to face the Western Force in Round 1 on Saturday (kick-off 9.35pm NZ Time).

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