Home SPORTS Wellington Hurricanes Move into Top Half of Table with Dominant Win

Wellington Hurricanes Move into Top Half of Table with Dominant Win

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The Wellington Hurricanes delivered a crushing 57-12 defeat to the NSW Waratahs, with Kini Naholo scoring a hat-trick. Get the latest Super Rugby Pacific updates and results.



Ardie Savea's Moana Pasifika pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the Canterbury Crusaders 45-29 in Christchurch. This victory marked a historic first win over the 14-time champions and denied them the top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific standings after Round 7.


The Crusaders were expected to take the top spot, especially with the table-topping Waikato Chiefs on a bye. However, Moana Pasifika delivered a complete 80-minute performance, showcasing their skills and determination. This win is a significant milestone for the team, and coach Tana Umaga hailed it as the best performance during his tenure.


The Queensland Reds took advantage of the Chiefs' bye and moved to the top of the standings with a hard-fought 28-24 win over the Western Force in Brisbane.


Captain Ardie Savea spearheaded Moana Pasifika's impressive 32-22 victory over the Crusaders, scoring the first two of their six tries within the opening 16 minutes. Savea's efforts set the tone for the match, while flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini's kicking game kept the Crusaders on the back foot. This well-deserved win marked a significant milestone for the 2022 expansion team.




Following the match, Savea expressed his pride in his team's performance. “No one was expecting us to win, so the message was for the boys just to jam and play with nothing to lose,” said the All Blacks number eight, who joined Moana Pasifika for this season. “We certainly did that tonight. We came here, we did the job, and I'm just proud of the boys. They deserve everything that comes their way.”


In another thrilling match, the Queensland Reds took advantage of the Chiefs' bye to prevail 28-24 over Western Force in a hard-fought Australian derby at Lang Park in Brisbane on Saturday evening. The teams were evenly matched, exchanging tries to enter halftime locked at 21-21. Although Ben Donaldson's penalty in the 57th minute edged the Perth-based Force ahead, Wallabies scrumhalf Tate McDermott came off the bench to score the winning try from close range in the 72nd minute. The Reds then muscled up in defence to secure the win.


Reds captain Ryan Smith expressed his team's satisfaction with their current position, but also acknowledged the challenges ahead. “We're really happy with where we're at at the moment,” Smith said. “But obviously, there's a lot of footy still to be played this year, and we've got some really tough tests coming up over the next couple of weeks.” The Reds currently top the standings with 23 points, narrowly ahead of the Chiefs, while the Crusaders and ACT Brumbies trail behind in third and fourth place, respectively, with 19 points each.


The Chiefs will host the Reds in the opening match of Round 8 next weekend, setting the stage for an exciting clash between the top two teams. Meanwhile, the Brumbies secured a thrilling 34-27 victory over the Otago Highlanders in Canberra on Friday. The match was marked by a frenetic finish, with the Brumbies scoring two tries in the last eight minutes. Winger Andy Muirhead showcased his footballing skills, crossing for the home side's fourth try, while centre Len Ikitau grabbed the fifth try two minutes from time. Despite the Highlanders' late surge, the Brumbies managed to hold on for the win.


In another match on Friday, the NSW Waratahs suffered a crushing 57-12 defeat at the hands of the Wellington Hurricanes in the New Zealand capital. The loss was further compounded by a serious ankle injury sustained by fullback Max Jorgensen. The defeat served as a reality check for the fifth-placed Waratahs, highlighting the gap between them and the top teams in the competition.


Kini Naholo, a powerhouse winger, stole the show with a hat-trick of tries as the Wellington Hurricanes delivered a dominant performance. The team's impressive display, reminiscent of their form last season when they topped the regular season standings, saw them score nine tries in total. This convincing win propelled the Hurricanes into the top half of the table.


Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw was thrilled with his team's performance, highlighting their ability to score points and find rhythm on both offense and defense. “It was nice to put some points on the board and find some rhythm on both sides of the ball,” Laidlaw said. “Much more pleasing.” The coach's satisfaction was evident, and the team's resurgence will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they push forward in the competition.




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