Record-Breaking Final Berth
Hurricanes Beat Blues 57-21, Reach Super Rugby Final, Set Historic Try Record
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Key Points
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The match began at breakneck speed: Cam Roigard sprinted clear after a quick penalty tap in the first minute, and a Jordie Barrett try was followed by a Patrick Tuipulotu try that Beauden Barrett converted to put the Blues ahead 7-5 in the 8th minute—before Du’Plessis Kirifi’s 13th-minute try and Ruben Love’s extras put the Hurricanes 12-7 up.
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Beyond the 19-14 halftime scoreline, the Hurricanes’ go-ahead try came specifically at the 30-minute mark: Xavier Numia “powered over from close range” to extend the home lead and set up the decisive halftime platform.
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The Blues’ late-game try drought was partly linked to specific injury/health turmoil: they lost key backs Caleb Clarke, Finlay Christie and AJ Lam to head knocks, and in the match report context they were “down AJ Lam and Clarke due to failed HIAs,” with Payton Spencer brought on to keep them in contention.
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Coach Clark Laidlaw directly attributed the turning point to tempo: Laidlaw “asked his men to up the tempo in the second half,” when the Hurricanes delivered an “explosive display of power and pace,” while commentators described the second-half performance as a “clinic really.”
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The Hurricanes’ 100-try season milestone came with record-context nuance: they finished on 104 tries—making them the first side in the competition’s 30-year span to hit 100 in a season—and the piece notes the achievement equates to an average of “more than six tries per game,” with the caveat that several previous seasons had fewer matches.
The Hurricanes demolished the Blues 57-21 on Friday night at Hnry Stadium in Wellington, booking their place in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final. Super Rugby Pacific Official reported the win as historic — the Hurricanes became the first team in the 31-year history of the competition to score 100 tries in a single season, finishing the night at 104.
The Hurricanes will host the Chiefs at Hnry Stadium on Saturday, June 20. The Chiefs reached the final by beating the Crusaders 49-12 in Hamilton. It will be the Chiefs' fourth straight Grand Final — they have lost the previous three, according to Super Rugby Pacific Official.
A Tight First Half Before the Floodgates Opened
The match started at a sprint. Cam Roigard scored in the first minute after a quick penalty tap. Jordie Barrett added a second moments later. The Blues hit back — Patrick Tuipulotu crossed in the 8th minute, and Beauden Barrett's conversion put Auckland ahead 7-5. Du'Plessis Kirifi then scored from a maul in the 13th minute to put Wellington back in front, 12-7, according to Planet Rugby.
The Blues refused to fold. Replacement Payton Spencer — son of All Black legend Carlos Spencer — scored in the 26th minute after collecting a Cole Forbes kick, nudging Auckland ahead 14-12, The Straits Times reported. Xavier Numia then powered through two defenders in the 30th minute to give the Hurricanes a 19-14 halftime lead. The game was still very much alive at the break.
Hurricanes Explode for Three Tries in Ten Second-Half Minutes
Head coach Clark Laidlaw told his players to "up the tempo" at halftime. They did exactly that. Cam Roigard scored his second try in the 42nd minute. Josh Moorby added another in the 46th. Asafo Aumua — named Man of the Match — bulldozed over in the 52nd minute. Three tries in ten minutes. The score moved from 19-14 to 38-14, according to The Straits Times.
Commentators called the second-half display "a clinic." The Hurricanes' high-tempo attack left the Blues scrambling. The Blues missed 32 tackles compared to Wellington's 16, according to Sofascore. Auckland were also down to a depleted backline — they had already lost Caleb Clarke in the 17th minute to a failed head injury assessment (HIA).
Head Knocks Gut the Blues Backline at the Worst Time
Clarke was not the only casualty. The Blues also lost Finlay Christie and AJ Lam to HIAs during the match, according to Planet Rugby. The losses gutted Auckland's pace and physicality out wide. Planet Rugby noted the Blues' midfield became a "sieve" once their physical carriers were removed — and the Hurricanes punished every gap.
Ereatara Enari and Kini Naholo scored in the 64th and 70th minutes respectively to push the Hurricanes past 50 points. Josh Moorby grabbed his second try in the 78th minute to seal the 57-21 result. The Blues managed a consolation try through Eli Oudenryn in the 74th minute. Final try count: Hurricanes 9, Blues 3, per Sofascore.
104 Tries in a Season: A Record 30 Years in the Making
The Hurricanes averaged more than six tries per game this season — a stat no team has matched in Super Rugby history, according to Super Rugby Pacific Official. Their 104-try total made them the first side to hit 100 in a single season across the competition's three-decade existence. Fly-half Ruben Love was singled out by Laidlaw after the game as "top-class" and ready for the All Blacks' starting role.
This match also marked the end of an era for the Blues. Coach Vern Cotter is departing, with former Hurricanes assistant Jason Holland set to take over in Auckland next season, Rugbypass reported. Clarke and Lam will enter mandatory concussion protocols, likely ruling them out of immediate All Black camps. The Hurricanes, by contrast, head into next Saturday's Grand Final with momentum, full health, and history already made.
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