Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 28 March
Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Watch live on Sky Sport
Get your tickets now at Hurricanes.co.nz
Hurricanes v Reds
The Hurricanes are sitting top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder but face a stern task against the fourth-placed Queensland Reds on Saturday afternoon. The family-friendly afternoon start should see a big crowd in for the home side’s first game in Wellington, as expectation starts to build around the talented and entertaining Hurricanes side coach Clark Laidlaw has assembled this year. They’re coming off a statement 50-7 win over the Highlanders last weekend, which sent a warning out to the rest of the teams about just how dangerous their attack can be.
Meanwhile, the Reds had a very satisfying 21-6 win over the Drua in Lautoka, which was their first ever in Fiji. The result was a masterclass in controlling the tempo of the game to suit the visitors, who had to not only overcome a fired up home side, but also a raucous crowd and challenging weather conditions.
See all the Team Lists for Round 7.
Key players
Ruben Love absolutely lit up Forsyth Barr Stadium with his most productive display in the 10 jersey, so all eyes will be on him and his attempts to unlock the Reds defence. The 24-year-old will have plenty of high profile help on either side of him, with Cam Roigard and Jordie Barrett set to start provide quality ball and attacking options.
Marking Love will be Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, who is in a very tight four-way battle for the Reds first five spot along with Carter Gordon, Tom Lynagh and recent recruit Ben Volavola. McLaughlin-Phillips will be hoping his star loose forward trio of Joe Brial, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson can give him a bit of room to operate against their hungry Hurricanes opposites.
History
This fixture has the distinction of being the first Super 12 game played in Wellington, way back in 1996 at the old Athletic Park. The Wallaby-stacked Reds won 32-25 thanks to tries to Tim Horan, Daniel Herbert, Ben Tune, Tony Daly and Toutai Kefu - but ever since the Hurricanes have held a significant advantage, including a 10-match win streak coming into this one.
Kefu enjoyed a nine-year, 103-game Super Rugby career with the Reds. He came up against fellow centurion Rodney So’oialo in several clashes with the Canes, with both men unsurprisingly named in their sides’ Legends XV.
Key stats
The Hurricanes have allowed their opposition just 7.2 entries per game into their 22 this season, the fewest of any team in the competition. Their 12.8 entries per game into the attacking 22 is the most of any team.
Reds duo George Blake (27) and Lachie Anderson (23) have made the most tackles of any players yet to miss a tackle this season, while Blake has not missed any tackles across his last six games.
The Reds have scored six tries when they’ve begun possession with a kick return this season, the most of any team in the competition. However, no team has conceded fewer tries via this method than the Hurricanes (1).
The last time they met
Hurricanes defeated the Queensland Reds 31 - 27
A heroic performance by Hurricanes skipper Du’Plessis Kirifi sealed a pulsating win in Brisbane, with a trademark turnover at the end the key play in a one-score game. Earlier, Ruben Love had scored within the first two minutes, but the Reds fought back to make the game a try-for-try encounter. Fehi Fineanganofo, who has already bagged six tries this season, crossed for the Hurricanes but was answered by Joe Brial and a double to Tate McDermott.
What’s going to happen
If previous form is anything to go by, the Hurricanes will be confident of victory. However, they will know it won’t be easy against a Reds side that pulled off the toughest away result in the competition in Lautoka. It will be interesting to see how Les Kiss approaches this challenge, as the Reds’ gameplan last weekend was clearly tailored for the Drua, however it’s likely in the other coaching box Clark Laidlaw’s message to the Hurricanes will be to simply keep up the intensity and workrate that has them sitting in first spot.